Cited by 114Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild and Animal Learning DevelopmentWilliams Syndrome Research

Thinking in Pictures as a Cognitive Account of Autism

Kunda, Maithilee, Goel, Ashok K.·2011·Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Abstract

We analyze the hypothesis that some individuals on the autism spectrum may use visual mental representations and processes to perform certain tasks that typically developing individuals perform verbally. We present a framework for interpreting empirical evidence related to this "Thinking in Pictures" hypothesis and then provide comprehensive reviews of data from several different cognitive tasks, including the n-back task, serial recall, dual task studies, Raven's Progressive Matrices, semantic processing, false belief tasks, visual search, spatial recall, and visual recall. We also discuss the relationships between the Thinking in Pictures hypothesis and other cognitive theories of autism including Mindblindness, Executive Dysfunction, Weak Central Coherence, and Enhanced Perceptual Functioning.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s10803-010-1137-1

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163 of 163 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Kunda, M., & Goel, A. K.
Affiliations
Georgia Institute of Technology (US)
Corresponding author
Kunda, Maithilee
Venue
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Published
2010-11-20
Volume
41
Issue
9
Pages
1157-1177
ISSN
  • 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
  • 1573-3432
OpenAlex
W1997532272
Cited by
114
References
163
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 6 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 7
FWCI
0.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • SMARTech Repository (Georgia Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Emory University
  • National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
  • Office of Naval Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Williams Syndrome Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, n-back task, serial recall, dual-task performance, Raven's Progressive Matrices, semantic processing, false belief tasks, visual search, spatial recall, visual recall, mindblindness, executive dysfunction, weak central coherence
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Child, Cognition, Humans, Imagination, Neuropsychological Tests, Pattern Recognition, Visual, Photic Stimulation, Thinking, Verbal Behavior

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