Talent in autism: hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity

被引:418
作者
Baron-Cohen, Simon [1 ]
Ashwin, Emma [1 ]
Ashwin, Chris [1 ]
Tavassoli, Teresa [1 ]
Chakrabarti, Bhismadev [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Cambridge, Dept Psychiat, Autism Res Ctr, Cambridge CB2 8AH, England
基金
英国医学研究理事会;
关键词
autism; Asperger syndrome; savant; HIGH-FUNCTIONING AUTISM; ASPERGER-SYNDROME; PERCEPTION; CHILDREN; INDIVIDUALS; ADULTS; SENSITIVITY; PERFORMANCE;
D O I
10.1098/rstb.2008.0337
中图分类号
Q [生物科学];
学科分类号
07 ; 0710 ; 09 ;
摘要
We argue that hyper-systemizing predisposes individuals to show talent, and review evidence that hyper-systemizing is part of the cognitive style of people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). We then clarify the hyper-systemizing theory, contrasting it to the weak central coherence (WCC) and executive dysfunction (ED) theories. The ED theory has difficulty explaining the existence of talent in ASC. While both hyper-systemizing and WCC theories postulate excellent attention to detail, by itself excellent attention to detail will not produce talent. By contrast, the hyper-systemizing theory argues that the excellent attention to detail is directed towards detecting 'if p, then q' rules (or [input-operation-output] reasoning). Such law-based pattern recognition systems can produce talent in systemizable domains. Finally, we argue that the excellent attention to detail in ASC is itself a consequence of sensory hypersensitivity. We review an experiment from our laboratory demonstrating sensory hypersensitivity detection thresholds in vision. We conclude that the origins of the association between autism and talent begin at the sensory level, include excellent attention to detail and end with hyper-systemizing.
引用
收藏
页码:1377 / 1383
页数:7
相关论文
共 48 条
[1]  
[Anonymous], BRIGHT SPLINTERS MIN
[2]  
ASHWIN C, OLFACTORY HYPE UNPUB
[3]   Eagle-Eyed Visual Acuity: An Experimental Investigation of Enhanced Perception in Autism [J].
Ashwin, Emma ;
Ashwin, Chris ;
Rhydderch, Danielle ;
Howells, Jessica ;
Baron-Cohen, Simon .
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY, 2009, 65 (01) :17-21
[4]   The systemizing quotient: an investigation of adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism, and normal sex differences [J].
Baron-Cohen, S ;
Richler, J ;
Bisarya, D ;
Gurunathan, N ;
Wheelwright, S .
PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON SERIES B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, 2003, 358 (1430) :361-374
[5]  
Baron-Cohen S, 1999, NEUROCASE, V5, P475, DOI 10.1093/neucas/5.6.475
[6]   'Obsessions' in children with autism or Asperger syndrome - Content analysis in terms of core domains of cognition [J].
Baron-Cohen, S ;
Wheelwright, S .
BRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY, 1999, 175 :484-490
[7]  
Baron-Cohen S., 2001, Journal of Developmental and Learning Disorders, V5, P47
[8]  
Baron-Cohen S., 2004, The essential difference: Male and female brains and the truth about autism
[9]   Autism, hypersystemizing, and truth [J].
Baron-Cohen, Simon .
QUARTERLY JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY, 2008, 61 (01) :64-75
[10]   The hyper-systemizing, assortative mating theory of autism [J].
Baron-Cohen, Simon .
PROGRESS IN NEURO-PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL PSYCHIATRY, 2006, 30 (05) :865-872