Choice Switching and Autism

NCT ID: NCT04631432

Last Updated: 2022-04-27

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Total Enrollment: 114 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2021-09-13

Brief Summary

The study aims to replicate and clarify a recently observed phenomenon whereby individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) switch between options in a repeated task to a greater extent than healthy controls do. In a meta-analysis a large effect size was found (.37) yet because the effect was noisy in different studies it was not statistically significant. The investigators seek to first examine a very large population through an Internet mediated platform. The sample size will be about the size of all of the previous studies that examined this issue together. Secondly, the investigators wish to understand the discrepancy between this choice switching phenomenon and the recorded tendency of ASD individuals to avoid changing choices. First, the investigators will administer the task in which the effect was found (the Iowa Gambling task) for a longer duration than previously and evaluate whether ASD individuals show increased choice switching in the first blocks of trials but reduced switching following more experience. Secondly, the investigators will administer an additional block of trials without feedback in which participants will not be able to go through a learning process. The investigators predict that this will reduce (and possible flip) the tendency of individuals with ASD to switch choices more often.

Conditions

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: CASE_CONTROL
• Study Time Perspective: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Study Groups

Study participation

All participants will complete the same protocol

Pre-screening

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Document upload of Autism diagnosis certificate. Participants can request to show their certificate via a Zoom meeting with the researcher instead of uploading it.

Task session

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The Iowa Gambling task- four decks of cards on the computer screen. Each card yields a reward, but might also yield a loss. In each trial, the participant selects a card. Consequently, the card is exposed, displaying the gain and the loss for that trial. Through contingent feedback, participants are expected to learn that some deck are better than others.The task will include 120 trials.

Block of trials without feedback- four decks of cards on the computer screen. Each card yields a reward, but might also yield a loss. In each trial, the participant selects a card. Consequently, the card is exposed, but the gain and the loss for that trial are not displayed. The task will include 30 trials.

Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition (SRS-2; adult-self report):(Constantino & Gruber, 2012) The brief autism quotient scale:(AQ10; Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) Brief intelligence test (Similarities-MAB + Raven Set 1)

Interventions

Pre-screening

Document upload of Autism diagnosis certificate. Participants can request to show their certificate via a Zoom meeting with the researcher instead of uploading it.

Intervention Type: DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Task session

The Iowa Gambling task- four decks of cards on the computer screen. Each card yields a reward, but might also yield a loss. In each trial, the participant selects a card. Consequently, the card is exposed, displaying the gain and the loss for that trial. Through contingent feedback, participants are expected to learn that some deck are better than others.The task will include 120 trials.

Block of trials without feedback- four decks of cards on the computer screen. Each card yields a reward, but might also yield a loss. In each trial, the participant selects a card. Consequently, the card is exposed, but the gain and the loss for that trial are not displayed. The task will include 30 trials.

Social Responsiveness Scale, 2nd Edition (SRS-2; adult-self report):(Constantino & Gruber, 2012) The brief autism quotient scale:(AQ10; Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) Brief intelligence test (Similarities-MAB + Raven Set 1)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• ASD group - Diagnosed with ASD
• Control - No ASD diagnosis: within age and education range of the ASD group.

Exclusion Criteria

• Demographics: Under 18 years of age.
• Mental health: self reported brain injury and neurological disorder (besides autism).

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Prof. Eldad Yechiam

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Dana Zeif, MSc

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Ofir Yakobi, PhD

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Waterloo

Eldad Yechaim, Professor

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Locations

Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Haifa, , Israel

Countries

Israel

References

Zeif D, Yechiam E. Autism is not associated with poor or enhanced performance on the Iowa Gambling Task: A Meta-Analysis. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Jun;113:440-447. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.04.016. Epub 2020 Apr 18.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 32311370 (View on PubMed)

Bechara A, Damasio AR, Damasio H, Anderson SW. Insensitivity to future consequences following damage to human prefrontal cortex. Cognition. 1994 Apr-Jun;50(1-3):7-15. doi: 10.1016/0010-0277(94)90018-3.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 8039375 (View on PubMed)

Ozonoff S. Reliability and validity of the Wisconsin card sorting test in studies of autism. Neuropsychology. 1995;9(4):491.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Gaeth GJ, Levin IP, Jain G, Data EV. Toward understanding everyday decision making by adults across the autism spectrum. Judgment and Decision Making. 2016 Nov 1;11(6):537.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

Study Documents

Document Type: Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Document Type: Study Protocol

View Document

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Other Identifiers

Technion institute 109171

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

109171

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id