The journal entitled Nature Neuroscience recently published research on how autistic children use proprioceptive information and visual information. The researchers concluded that autistic children relied much more on the proprioceptive information to learn new movement patterns rather than external visual cues when compared to typically developing peers. In addition, they found that the children who greatly relied on the proprioceptive information exhibited greater deficits in social and motor skills.
The researchers hypothesize that this coincides with previous research. Since proprioception is more closely linked to motor areas, this could indicate that autistic children exbibit an over development of short range white matter connections and an underdevelopment of long range connections (visual motor information in this example).
The researchers recommend that motor skills should be taught early on to autistic children with a focus on external visual motor associations.
Reference: Kennedy Krieger Institute (2009, July 10). Difference In The Way Children With Autism Learn New Behaviors Described. ScienceDaily. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/07/090706113647.htm
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