Observational learning of atypical biological kinematics in autism

Foster, N, Bennett, S, Pullar, K, Causer, J, Becchio, C, Clowes, D and Hayes, S (2023) Observational learning of atypical biological kinematics in autism. Autism Research: official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 16 (9). pp. 1-12. ISSN 1939-3792

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Abstract

Observing and voluntarily imitating the biological kinematics displayed by a model underpins the acquisition of new motor skills via sensorimotor processes linking perception with action. Differences in voluntary imitation in autism could be related to sensorimotor processing activity during action-observation of biological motion, as well as how sensorimotor integration processing occurs across imitation attempts. Using an observational practice protocol, which minimized the active contribution of the peripheral sensorimotor system, we examined the contribution of sensorimotor processing during action-observation. The data showed that autistic participants imitated both the temporal duration and atypical kinematic profile of the observed movement with a similar level of accuracy as neurotypical participants. These findings suggest the lower-level perception-action processes responsible for encoding biological kinematics during the action-observation phase of imitation are operational in autism. As there was no task-specific engagement of the peripheral sensorimotor system during observational practice, imitation difficulties in autism are most likely underpinned by sensorimotor integration issues related to the processing of efferent and (re)afferent sensorimotor information during trial-to-trial motor execution.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans; Imitative Behavior; Learning; Psychomotor Performance; Autistic Disorder; Biomechanical Phenomena; Autism Spectrum Disorder; autism spectrum disorder; biological motion kinematics; imitation; observational practice; sensorimotor integration; Humans; Autistic Disorder; Biomechanical Phenomena; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Learning; Psychomotor Performance; Imitative Behavior; 5202 Biological Psychology; 5204 Cognitive and Computational Psychology; 52 Psychology; Mental Health; Brain Disorders; Autism; Behavioral and Social Science; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD); Pediatric; Mental health; Humans; Autistic Disorder; Biomechanical Phenomena; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Learning; Psychomotor Performance; Imitative Behavior; 1103 Clinical Sciences; 1109 Neurosciences; 1701 Psychology; Developmental & Child Psychology; 3209 Neurosciences; 5201 Applied and developmental psychology; 5203 Clinical and health psychology
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC1200 Sports Medicine
Divisions:	Sport and Exercise Sciences
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	15 July 2023
Date of first compliant Open Access:	8 May 2025
Date Deposited:	08 May 2025 13:20
Last Modified:	08 May 2025 13:30
DOI or ID number:	10.1002/aur.3002
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/26322

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