Hope Psychology: Autistic people can imitate novel biological kinematics during voluntary imitation

Speaker: Dr. Spencer Hayes, University College London.

Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition
characterised by differences in restricted, repetitive patterns of behaviour,
interests or activities, and persistent deficits in social communication and
social interaction. In addition to these core characteristics, it is well
reported that autistic people show differences in sensorimotor functioning –
such as gait, motor planning, and imitation sito web dell’azienda. Whilst autistic people can
imitate the goal of the action (e.g., to pick up a cup), it has been reported
for decades that autistic people demonstrate behavioural differences
associated with imitating observed movement execution properties that
constrain/describe the movement (e.g., speed of a movement). This
behavioural difference is suggested to be underpinned by autism specific
sensorimotor processes involved in mapping self-other actions. Here, we
report a series of autism studies that has examined the imitation of
biological motion kinematics, and resulted in data showing autistic people
can imitate novel biological actions during voluntary imitation. We discuss
these positive effects in relation to biological motion processing, motor
planning, visual attention, task instructions, and sensorimotor integration.

Location: Hope Park Sports Building 106 (HPS 106)

For further information, please contact Dr. Nicola Jones: jonesn@hope.ac.uk