Elucidating the functions of episodic memory and future thinking in real life for adults with autism

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 21K13626
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09060:Special needs education-related
• Research Institution: Kobe University
• Principal Investigator: Yamamoto Kenta 神戸大学, 人間発達環境学研究科, 助教 (00895542)
• Project Period (FY): 2021-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 自閉スペクトラム症 / エピソード記憶 / 未来思考

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The aim of this study was to clarify the characteristics of episodic memory and future thinking in real-life situations for adults with autism. In the experiment on episodic memory, the participants with autism showed a decline in memory for items encoded in an open-air setting. On the other hand, there was no decline in memory for items encoded on a screen monitor. This result reflects the fact that people with autism have difficulty processing spatial information. Regarding future thinking, the total number of thoughts per day did not decline. However, they had fewer thoughts about action planning. This result reflects the fact that autistic people have difficulty reconstructing past events and simulating the future. Based on the above, it seems important to convey information simply to autistic people.

Free Research Field

認知心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究で明らかになった現実場面を想定した自閉症者の記憶/未来思考の特徴は，これまで取り組まれているスキルトレーニングや環境調整など，既存のアプローチに記憶/未来思考の視点が加わることで新たな支援手法の構築の第一歩となる。また，自閉症者が合理的配慮を求める際にも，記憶/未来思考といった観点が適切な支援へつながる可能性が高いため，特別支援教育だけでなく職業リハビリテーション学へも波及することが期待される。