UVA Child Psychology Experiment
Today, we went to the University of Virginia's Child Psychology Department to do a quick computer test for an experiment they are conducting with autistic children.
The test consisted of alternating screens of nine pictures-- eight of different kinds of frogs and one of a snake. The boys were asked to identify the snake on each screen. Then the pictures would shuffle changing their location on the screen and the type of snake shown.
Nathan decided he didn't want to do it after a couple of screeens. Peter was able to complete the experiment but every three screens was rewarded with being able to open and close the door to the room (he was very stressed by the new location and opened and closed doors repeatedly when we got there).
Peter got a few screens wrong and instead of a snake picked a frog. But I noticed that he was trying to do the screens really fast and some of the frog colors (particularly red) resembled the pictures of the snakes with the same colors if you just glanced at the photo. It was funny because when he touched the screen and picked the wrong picture he would pause and look at the screen again (which had moved on and shuffled the pictures) as if he realized he was wrong. I think most of the time he knew when he had picked the wrong photo but it was always after the fact.
UVA told me that the purpose of the experiment was to see if children with autism could identify threatening or scary objects as easily as neurotypical children. It was interesting to see that Peter could identify the snakes but it seemed he did this almost as much by color as by shape.
The test consisted of alternating screens of nine pictures-- eight of different kinds of frogs and one of a snake. The boys were asked to identify the snake on each screen. Then the pictures would shuffle changing their location on the screen and the type of snake shown.
Nathan decided he didn't want to do it after a couple of screeens. Peter was able to complete the experiment but every three screens was rewarded with being able to open and close the door to the room (he was very stressed by the new location and opened and closed doors repeatedly when we got there).
Peter got a few screens wrong and instead of a snake picked a frog. But I noticed that he was trying to do the screens really fast and some of the frog colors (particularly red) resembled the pictures of the snakes with the same colors if you just glanced at the photo. It was funny because when he touched the screen and picked the wrong picture he would pause and look at the screen again (which had moved on and shuffled the pictures) as if he realized he was wrong. I think most of the time he knew when he had picked the wrong photo but it was always after the fact.
UVA told me that the purpose of the experiment was to see if children with autism could identify threatening or scary objects as easily as neurotypical children. It was interesting to see that Peter could identify the snakes but it seemed he did this almost as much by color as by shape.
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The other day at Walmart, Peter managed to barely push, yet set it off, the fire door near the automotive section. I had to hunt someone down, apologize, and let them know he is autistic. Now, it's funny. At the time I had to keep telling myself that these things happen and can't be controlled.
Thanks again. I agree Maddy-- whatever works!
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