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    Dr Kate Plaisted-Grant

    University Position
    Associate Professor

    Interests

    My research interest in autism was sparked by the fascinating cognitive strengths shown by many individuals with autism. These include exceptional abilities to process fine details, better discrimination abilities compared to typical individuals and an ability to show highly focussed attention. An important question is whether these cognitive strengths provide the key to understanding some of the difficulties for individuals with autism, such as social communication. More specifically, it raises the question of whether the differences in psychological mechanisms which result in exceptional abilities play a causal role in affecting the development of social information processing and language in autism. However, this question can only be tackled by first understanding the mechanisms which cause the cognitive strengths. My research interests currently focus on mechanisms of perception and attention that may be different in autism compared to typical individuals.

    Key Publications

    Publications

    Eye movements reveal a dissociation between memory encoding and retrieval in adults with autism.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2016.11.013
    Journal: Cognition
    E-pub date: 1 Feb 2017
    Authors: RA Cooper, KC Plaisted-Grant, S Baron-Cohen, JS Simons

    Reality Monitoring and Metamemory in Adults with Autism Spectrum Conditions.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2749-x
    Journal: J Autism Dev Disord
    E-pub date: 1 Jun 2016
    Authors: RA Cooper, KC Plaisted-Grant, S Baron-Cohen, JS Simons

    Impaired recollection of visual scene details in adults with autism spectrum conditions.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000070
    Journal: Journal of Abnormal Psychology
    E-pub date: 1 Aug 2015
    Authors: RA Cooper, KC Plaisted-Grant, DE Hannula, C Ranganath, S Baron-Cohen, JS Simons

    Executive functions are employed to process episodic and relational memories in children with autism spectrum disorders.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1037/a0034492
    Journal: Neuropsychology
    E-pub date: 1 Nov 2013
    Authors: L Maister, JS Simons, K Plaisted-Grant

    Visuo-spatial processing in autism–testing the predictions of extreme male brain theory.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0419-8
    Journal: J Autism Dev Disord
    E-pub date: 1 Mar 2008
    Authors: CM Falter, KC Plaisted, G Davis

    Superior visual search in autism.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1037//0096-1523.27.3.719
    Journal: J Exp Psychol Hum Percept Perform
    E-pub date: 1 Jun 2001
    Authors: MA O'Riordan, KC Plaisted, J Driver, S Baron-Cohen

    Recognition of faux pas by normally developing children and children with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism.

    DOI: http://doi.org/10.1023/a:1023035012436
    Journal: J Autism Dev Disord
    E-pub date: 1 Oct 1999
    Authors: S Baron-Cohen, M O'Riordan, V Stone, R Jones, K Plaisted