Reduced Motor Interference in Preschoolers with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Williams Syndrome

ABSTRACT

Motor interference occurs when action execution is hindered by the observation of an incongruent action. The present study used a novel eye-tracking paradigm to test the motor interference effect in 22 preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), 14 preschoolers with Williams syndrome (WS), and 18 typically developing (TD) peers. In TD children, performance of a pre-determined action was slower after the observation of an incongruent motor action and faster following observation of a congruent motor action, indicating a motor interference effect. In both the ASD and WS groups, performance was unaffected by the congruent versus incongruent nature of the observed motor action.

Acknowledgments

We would like to acknowledge the children and parents involved in the study, the Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre Team who facilitated the recruitment and testing of the ASD sample, the Williams Syndrome Family Support Group (Victoria) and the Williams Syndrome Association Australia. We would also like to acknowledge the valuable contribution of Associate Professor Melanie Porter, Stephanie Sievers, Anna Atkinson, Jessica Reeve, Simone Griffith, Jacqueline Maya, Melanie Muniandy and Cathriona Clarke.