#Frith weak coherence theory full

Of the two clinical groups, the autism group had the greater deficit. Arranging sentences and making global inferences correlated highly, suggesting that central coherence may be a unitary force in these different tasks. The results suggest that individuals on the autism spectrum have impaired global coherence. The clinical groups were less able to arrange sentences coherently and use context to make a global inference. Experiment 2 investigated whether they were less able to use context to make a global inference. Introduction: Visuoconceptual integration was explored as a test of central coherence theory (Frith, 1989). Experiment 1 investigated whether individuals on the autism spectrum condition could arrange sentences coherently. Possible computational and neural models are discussed. Local bias appears not to be a mere side-effect of executive dysfunction, and may be independent of theory of mind deficits. Originally, the weak-coherence theory was described as simply a cognitive style ( Happé and Frith 2006 ), offering an explanation as to why people with ASD are less likely to combine the local and global features of objects (e.g., Navon stimuli). Two experiments were designed to test global coherence. A review of over 50 empirical studies of coherence suggests robust findings of local bias in ASD, with mixed findings regarding weak global processing. Recently, weak-coherence theory has come under scrutiny (Pellicano and Burr 2012a).

#Frith weak coherence theory full

Since individuals with autism are hypothesized to have weak central coherence then one would predict that the clinical groups would have difficulty integrating information globally so as to derive full meaning. Global coherence is the ability to establish causal connections and interrelate local chunks into higher-order chunks so that most linguistic elements are linked together thematically.

Linguistic processing was explored in normally intelligent adults with either autism or Asperger& amp #39 s syndrome, to test if global coherence was impaired.