Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Oct 26.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06616-8. Online ahead of print.

Evaluation of a Visual Cognitive Style in Autism: A Cluster Analysis

Clara Bled  1 , Q Guillon  2 , L Mottron  3 , I Soulieres  4 , L Bouvet  2
Affiliations

Evaluation of a Visual Cognitive Style in Autism: A Cluster Analysis

Clara Bled et al. J Autism Dev Disord. .

Abstract

Cognitive style refers to how individuals perceive their environment and solve problems. Among various cognitive styles documented, verbal and visual styles, including object versus spatial cognition, have been widely studied. "Thinking in pictures" is often associated with autism and characterized by enhanced performance and autonomy of certain perceptual areas. This study aimed to characterize the cognitive style of autistic individuals, focusing on this visual "thinking in pictures" style. We assessed 43 autistic and 42 non-autistic adults using the Object Spatial Imagery Verbal Questionnaire to evaluate three dimensions of their cognitive style: visual object, visual spatial, and verbal. Using a cluster analysis, we identified cognitive style profiles. We then examined manifestations of cognitive style within these profiles, including mental imagery abilities (with the Mental Rotation Test), the vividness of mental images (with the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire), language abilities (with the Mill Hill vocabulary test), and synesthetic experiences. Our results revealed three distinct cognitive profiles: a visual profile characterized by significant mental imagery and vivid mental images, a visuo-spatial profile associated with strong abilities to manipulate mental images but lower vividness of mental images, and a verbal profile with lower spatial imagery and manipulation abilities. While all profiles were observed in autistic individuals, the visual cognitive profile was the most common. Additionally, we found synesthesia to be more prevalent in the autistic population compared to the non-autistic population. This study confirms that, while not exclusive, a visual cognitive style is prevalent among autistic individuals.

Keywords: Aphantasia; Autism; Cognitive style; Mental imagery; Object imagery; Spatial imagery; Synesthesia; Verbal imagery.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Albaret, J. M., & Aubert, E. (1996). Etalonnage 15–19 ans du test de rotation mentale de Vandenberg. Evolutions Psychomotrices, 206–209.
    1. American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
    1. Bainbridge, W. A., Pounder, Z., Eardley, A. F., & Baker, C. I. (2021). Quantifying aphantasia through drawing: Those without visual imagery show deficits in object but not spatial memory. Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior, 135, 159–172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2020.11.014 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Barnett, K. J., & Newell, F. N. (2008). Synaesthesia is associated with enhanced, self-rated visual imagery. Consciousness and Cognition, 17(3), 1032–1039. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2007.05.011 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1005653411471 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources