Impaired classical conditioning in persons with autism spectrum disorders

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dc.contributorKlinger, Mark R.
dc.contributorKlinger, Laura G.
dc.contributorMerrill, Edward C.
dc.contributorScofield, Jason M.
dc.contributorRyan, Sarah M.
dc.contributor.advisorKlinger, Mark R.
dc.contributor.advisorMerrill, Edward C.
dc.contributor.authorPowell, Patrick Snow
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2017-03-01T16:33:59Z
dc.date.available2017-03-01T16:33:59Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractPrevious research has indicated that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulty with implicit learning; learning that occurs unconsciously and without intention. The present study utilized a classical fear conditioning paradigm to examine associative learning in individuals with ASD, which can be considered to be a simple form of implicit learning. Fifteen individuals diagnosed with ASD and 16 age, gender, and IQ-matched individuals with typical development participated in this study. Both participants with ASD and typical development were presented with a series of colors and sounds paired with an aversive loud noise while skin conductance responses (SCRs) were recorded. Following this task, an explicit memory test probed participants' awareness of the learning contingencies. Results from this study found that individuals with ASD demonstrate a general impairment in associative learning compared to individuals with typical development. Additionally, greater explicit awareness of the learning contingencies was related to greater associative learning in individuals with ASD. Implications for theories regarding associative and implicit learning impairments in ASD, such as the underconnectivity theory of autism and the Learning Compensation model are discussed.en_US
dc.format.extent56 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0000959
dc.identifier.otherPowell_alatus_0004M_10961
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/1447
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectPsychology
dc.subjectPhysiological psychology
dc.titleImpaired classical conditioning in persons with autism spectrum disordersen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Psychology
etdms.degree.disciplinePsychology
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.levelmaster's
etdms.degree.nameM.A.
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