Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Psychology

Eastern Michigan University

Autism

Articles 1 - 8 of 8

Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences

Motor Skill Performance And Physical Activity In Children With Features Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan K. Wright Jan 2020

Motor Skill Performance And Physical Activity In Children With Features Of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan K. Wright

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Fifty to 100% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit motor skills deficits. In addition to motor skill deficits, children with ASD have been reported to engage in less physical activity than their neurotypical peers. Motor skill deficits and limited physical activity may impact functioning in other domains, including physical fitness and adaptive skills. The present study examined the relationship between motor skills, physical activity, physical fitness, and adaptive skills in children with a range of ASD features. A sample of 41 children ages 7-12 years participated in the study. Participants and their parents completed assessments of motor skills, …


The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention On Motor Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan K. Wright Jan 2017

The Effects Of A Yoga Intervention On Motor Skills In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Morgan K. Wright

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) display a range of motor delays and deficits that may contribute to ASD symptoms, including social and communicative skills and repetitive and stereotyped behaviors. Limited motor abilities may result in a less physically active lifestyle and engagement in more sedentary behavior. Few studies have examined the effects of physical activity based motor interventions on motor skills. Yoga interventions can be used to teach gross motor skills by providing explicit instruction using behavioral principles. Several studies suggest that yoga may also improve social and communicative skills and behavior problems; however, these studies have not systematically …


Visual Attention Shifting In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Annette E. Richard Jul 2014

Visual Attention Shifting In Autism Spectrum Disorder, Annette E. Richard

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Much research to date has been devoted to understanding the neurocognitive abnormalities characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Abnormalities in visual attention are particularly notable in ASD and have the potential to inform an understanding of the aberrant neural networks underlying this disorder. The current study utilized a model integrating components of both a two-stage model of perceptual binding and Posner's model of attention in order to provide a coherent account of previous findings of both enhanced and impaired visual attention abilities in ASD. To investigate a potential deficit in attention shifting underlying a variety of observed attentional abnormalities in …


Analysis Of Beta-Band Meg Coherence In Asd During Direct Gaze Processing: Relationship To Social Cognition, Aimee Marie Moore Jul 2013

Analysis Of Beta-Band Meg Coherence In Asd During Direct Gaze Processing: Relationship To Social Cognition, Aimee Marie Moore

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Gaze-following is a rudimentary behavior that forms the foundation of social communication, where aberrant social orienting is a defining feature of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD; Hoehl et al., 2009; Nummenmaa & Cal der, 2009). Recent neuroimaging research has demonstrated increasing precision at identifying aberrant brain response patterns in individuals with ASD, but no studies have employed a more holistic neural network approach analyzing coherence (i.e., synchrony of neural oscillations) during direct gaze processing. The current study examined coherence between each pair of 54 brain regions and the relationship between average coherence and psychometric measures of social cognition in eleven participants …


The Effects Of Response Interruption And Redirection On Language Skills In Children With Vocal Stereotypy, Tamara Leigh Perry Oct 2012

The Effects Of Response Interruption And Redirection On Language Skills In Children With Vocal Stereotypy, Tamara Leigh Perry

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Vocal stereotypy is a common, skill-disruptive behavior in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Response interruption and redirection (RIRD), the delivery of demands contingent on the occurrence of vocal stereotypy, is an intervention that is gaining empirical support for reducing vocal stereotypy and increasing appropriate language. However, little is known about the efficacy of RIRD when combined with early intensive behavioral intervention (EIBI), the recommended treatment approach for children with ASD, and its effects on the acquisition of language skills. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of RIRD when delivered during EIBI programming. Participants were …


The Impact Of A Group-Based Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Intervention On Parents Of Children Diagnosed With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jennifer D. Kowalkowski Jun 2012

The Impact Of A Group-Based Acceptance And Commitment Therapy Intervention On Parents Of Children Diagnosed With An Autism Spectrum Disorder, Jennifer D. Kowalkowski

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Parents of children diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder face significant stressors and challenges; however, little research has investigated ways to effectively address their psychological distress and adjustment issues. This study used a between-subject and withinsubject repeated measures design to test the effects of an 8-week Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or treatment as usual (TAU) group. Treatment completers included 13 mothers in the ACT condition and 4 mothers in TAU. They were assessed three weeks before the intervention, one week after, and three months post-intervention. Limited data for between-group comparison demonstrated only a significant difference on the frequency scale …


Gamma Oscillatory Activity In Autism Spectrum Disorder During A Face Cueing Task, Annette E. Richard Jan 2012

Gamma Oscillatory Activity In Autism Spectrum Disorder During A Face Cueing Task, Annette E. Richard

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

Joint attention is a social interaction skill that normally develops in infancy and involves following another’s gaze to a stimulus. This skill is absent or developmentally delayed in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), causing cascading effects on development. Neural synchrony in the gamma frequency band is thought to be involved in cognitive functions such as joint attention. The current study investigated differences in gamma power between neurotypicals and ASD as measured by magnetoencephalography (MEG) while performing a gaze cueing task simulating joint attention. Results support lower frontal gamma power in ASD, suggesting that impaired generation of gamma activity in the prefrontal …


Typically Developing Children’S Attitudes And Acceptance Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder After Integrated Play Group Involvement, Karen Kay Toon Jan 2010

Typically Developing Children’S Attitudes And Acceptance Of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder After Integrated Play Group Involvement, Karen Kay Toon

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In an urban, midwestern public school, six children, ages 8-10 years old, engaged in ten weeks of Integrated Play Groups (IPGs) to teach skills to students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Lasting two and a half months, IPGs met for 30 minutes, twice weekly. The participants engaged in pre- and post-tests of the revised Chedoke-McMaster Attitudes Towards Children with Handicaps scale and pre- and post-focus groups. These means were used to investigate the research question: What can be learned about typical peers’ attitudes and acceptance of students with ASD through the expert players’ reflections on Integrated Play Group involvement? The …