Working Memory and Individuals with Asperger's Disorder

Children who meet the diagnostic criteria for Asperger?s Disorder (AD) are characterized by an information processing deficit (IP) related to how they process the complex information inherent in non- verbal and verbal social tasks. To understand the specific type of IP deficit more precisely, this study investigated the IP deficit specific to working memory capacity. Working memory capacity demonstrates how the individual can interpret, store, and manipulate specific types of information (e.g., verbal, visual, and spatial) in isolation and simultaneously. This study compared the working memory capacity of adolescent males demonstrating AD with that of their typically developing peers. The findings revealed significant differences in working memory capacity between the two groups, suggesting that the IP deficit that occurs within the context of social interactions relates to working memory. These findings provide support for innovative interventions that focus on improving working memory capacity rather than interventions that focus on rote memory learning that is situation based within specific social contexts.