The Imageability Effect on word Comprehension in a High-Functioning Individual with Autism

概要

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The purpose of this study was to confirm the possibility that language comprehension of a high-functioning individual with autism depends on visual images from the perspective of imageability of words. One high-functioning individual with autism and twenty normal university students as controls served as subjects. In the experiment, words were presented visually or auditorily and subjects were to select a correct meaning from five options. Independent variables were the imageability (high, medium, and low) of words and the way of presenting them (visually and auditorily). The imageability effect was shown in the performance by the autistic individual. In the visually presented condition, the effect was stronger than the auditory condition. Thus, the difficulty in understanding abstract words by autistic people indicated by the previous studies was reconfirmed. The results imply that autistic individuals have a tendency to depend more on visual images in word processing than normal people. It is also suggested that normal people, not only presenting words visually but also using language expressions that can easily evoke visual images, maybe able to communicate more effectively with autistic people.
日本コミュニケーション障害学会の論文