Prospective memory and cognitive dysfunction in individual with Autism: An Empirical Investigation

Background and Aim: Autism, a neurodevelopmental syndrome, is defined by deficits in social reciprocity and communication, and by unusual restricted, repetitive behaviors. Autistic children have problem in memory. Prospective memory is memory for action to be performed in the future. Retrospective memory is memory of past event. Prospective memory is future oriented and retrospective memory is past oriented. Methods Prospective and retrospective memory questionnaire and Cognitive dysfunction questionnaire were administered on ۴۳ autistic adult and aged match control group. Analysis of variance and correlation were used to analyse the data. Results Literature shows that there are many studies in short term memory, working memory and autism. However, not much is known about autism and future oriented memory, prospective memory. The present study is an attempt to investigate prospective memory and cognitive dysfunction in individual with autism. Conclusion Results revealed in prospective memory questionnaire, individuals with Autistic Spectrum disorder (ASDs) showed significant PM impairment on measures of prospective remembering as compare to control group. Also in emotion regulation questionnaire and cognitive failure questionnaire in ASDs showed significant results. The results were discussed in the light of existence literature.

Keywords:

Cognitve failre , Future oriented Repetitive behaviors , Social reciprocity