The vividness of visualisations and autistic trait expression are not strongly associated

IF 2 3区心理学 Q2 PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL Consciousness and Cognition Pub Date : 2025-03-01 Epub Date: 2025-02-04 DOI:10.1016/j.concog.2025.103821

Loren N. Bouyer , Elizabeth Pellicano , Blake W. Saurels , D. Samuel Schwarzkopf , Derek H. Arnold

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Abstract

A minority of people (Aphantasics) report an inability to visualise. Aphantasia has been linked to Autism – a neurodevelopmental condition affecting social interactions. There is a risk of a circular logic informing proposed links, as the most popular metric of autistic traits, the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), has an Imagination subscale with items relating directly and indirectly to imagery. We tested for inter-relationships between imagery vividness ratings and the expression of autistic traits, using metrics that do and do not encompass an Imagination subscale. We also conducted hierarchical linear regression analyses to assess the contributions of different AQ subscale scores to imagery inter-relationships. Only in our highest-powered study (N = 308) were we able to detect a weak inter-relationship between AQ scores and imagery, independent of the Imagination subscale. We suggest that only a weak inter-relationship should exist, as many autistic people describe themselves as visual thinkers who have strong imagery.

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可视化的生动性和自闭症特征的表达并没有很强的联系

少数人（幻想症）报告无法想象。失视症与自闭症有关，自闭症是一种影响社会互动的神经发育状况。由于最流行的自闭症特征度量标准自闭症谱系商（AQ）有一个想象子量表，其中的项目直接或间接地与意象相关，因此存在循环逻辑通知所提出的联系的风险。我们测试了图像生动度评级和自闭症特征表达之间的相互关系，使用了包含和不包含想象力子量表的指标。我们还进行了层次线性回归分析，以评估不同AQ分量表得分对图像相互关系的贡献。只有在我们最有力的研究中（N = 308），我们才能够检测到独立于想象力分量表的AQ分数和想象之间的微弱相互关系。我们认为只有一种微弱的相互关系应该存在，因为许多自闭症患者将自己描述为视觉思考者，他们有很强的形象。

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来源期刊

Consciousness and Cognition PSYCHOLOGY, EXPERIMENTAL-

CiteScore

4.30

自引率

8.30%

发文量

123

期刊介绍： Consciousness and Cognition: An International Journal provides a forum for a natural-science approach to the issues of consciousness, voluntary control, and self. The journal features empirical research (in the form of regular articles and short reports) and theoretical articles. Integrative theoretical and critical literature reviews, and tutorial reviews are also published. The journal aims to be both scientifically rigorous and open to novel contributions.