Implicit Versus Explicit Motor Learning in Boys with Autism
Research in Developmental Disabilities published an article comparing implicit versus explicit motor learning in 30 boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their age and IQ matched peers. Each children participated in a serial reaction time task (SRTT). The children were separated into different groups based on diagnosis and implicit or explicit learning for the SRTT.
The results indicated the following:
- implicit motor learning occurred in both children with ASD and typical children with no significant differences between groups
- explicit motor learning was only observed in typical children not children with ASD with a significant difference between groups for explicit learning.
The researchers concluded that implicit motor learning is not affected in children with ASD. They discuss applying to the cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP) approach of motor learning with children with ASD. Check out the next blog post for more information on the CO-OP approach of motor learning.
Reference:
Sara Izadi-Najafabadi et al. Implicit and explicit motor learning: Application to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Research in Developmental Disabilities. Volume 47, December 2015, Pages 284–296