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A Preliminary Study of Gender Differences in Autobiographical Memory in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Abstract

Autobiographical memory was assessed in 24 children (12 male, 12 female, aged between 8 and 16 years) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and a comparison group of 24 typically developing (TD) children matched for age, IQ, gender and receptive language. Results suggested that a deficit in specific memory retrieval in the ASD group was more characteristic of male participants. Females in both the TD and ASD groups generated more detailed and emotional memories than males. They also demonstrated superior verbal fluency scores; verbal fluency and autobiographical memory cueing task performance were significantly positively correlated in females. Results are discussed in light of recent research suggesting gender differences in the phenotype of ASD.

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Notes

  1. DSM 5 criteria were not available at the time of the study.

  2. The updated version of the BPVS, BPVS3, had not been published at the outset of the study

  3. Post hoc correlational analysis indicated an association between SCQ scores and number of specific memories retrieved (r = −.37, p = .04, one-tailed).

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by funding from the Economic and Social Research Council (UK), Ref: RES-062-23-0197. We are very grateful to all who participated in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths College, University of London, New Cross Gate, London, SE14 6NW, UK

    Lorna Goddard

  2. Department of Psychology, University of St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AJ, Scotland, UK

    Barbara Dritschel

  3. Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College, London, SE5 8AF, UK

    Patricia Howlin

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  1. Lorna Goddard
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  2. Barbara Dritschel
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  3. Patricia Howlin
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Correspondence to Lorna Goddard.

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Goddard, L., Dritschel, B. & Howlin, P. A Preliminary Study of Gender Differences in Autobiographical Memory in Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. J Autism Dev Disord 44, 2087–2095 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2109-7

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