Adapted to explore: reinforcement learning in Autistic Spectrum Conditions

Brain and Cognition
Eldad YechiamJudith Aharon

Abstract

Recent studies have recorded a tendency of individuals with Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) to continually change their choices in repeated choice tasks. In the current study we examine if this finding implies that ASC individuals have a cognitive style that facilitates exploration and discovery. Six decision tasks were administered to adolescents with ASC and matched controls. Significant differences in shifting between choice options appeared in the Iowa Gambling task (Bechara, Damasio, Damasio, & Anderson, 1994). A formal cognitive modeling analysis demonstrated that for about half of the ASC participants the adaptation process did not conform to the standard reinforcement learning model. These individuals were only coarsely affected by choice-outcomes, and were more influenced by the exploratory value of choices, being attracted to previously un-explored alternatives. An examination of the five simpler decision tasks where the advantageous option was easier to determine showed no evidence of this pattern, suggesting that the shifting choice pattern is not an uncontrollable tendency independent of task outcomes. These findings suggest that ASC individuals have a unique adaptive learning style, which may be beneficial is som...Continue Reading

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Citations

Apr 27, 2013·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders·K Gillespie-LynchS P Johnson
Jan 10, 2013·Cognitive, Affective & Behavioral Neuroscience·Alexander Dovgopoly, Eduardo Mercado
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Aug 22, 2017·Molecular Autism·Junya FujinoHidehiko Takahashi
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Mar 2, 2021·International Journal of Psychophysiology : Official Journal of the International Organization of Psychophysiology·Fangfang ChenFengqiong Yu
Jul 7, 2021·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Liron RozenkrantzJohn D E Gabrieli

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