Autism: The Recent Study by Gustav Kuhn, Research Paper Example

The recent study by Gustav Kuhn, Anastasia Kourkoulou and Susan Leekam showcased the memory, eye control and maintaining concentration on one or multiple subjects.  The goal of the study was primarily to analyze the definitive differences between a normal brain and the brain functionality of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) which is a highly advanced formed of autism formerly known as Asperger’s Disease (Markman, 2010).  This study utilized a magic trick whereby each person was meant to watch a magician throw a ball three times and guess where the ball was placed after the third throw.  The research showed that normal individuals were more likely to guess the correct placement of the ball after the third throw due to their ability to maintain eye control on the ball as well as the magician’s face; however, ASD individuals had difficulty following the ball and relied solely on watching the magician’s face (Markman, 2010).

This research shows a unique revelation of the extent of Autism as it impacts an individual’s ability to maintain eye control and concentration during fast-paced movements. The study shows that individuals suffering from the ASD develepmental disorder have difficulty with motor skills and eye control.  Furthermore, the research shows that individuals suffering from ASD have difficulty in moving their attention from one thing to another (Markman, 2010). Finally, the researchers also revealed that autistic individuals were more apt to concentrate solely on the magician’s face, which contradicts the belief that autistic persons have difficulty dealing with social information (Markman, 2010). This shows that the standard beliefs of autism may in fact be largely incorrect with regards to eye control, concentration and ability to deal with social information.  This study solidifies a bulk of the prominent research on autism in the medical community, but it also stresses the importance for researchers to continue these studies in order to determine the complexities of autism and ASD as medical professionals and behavioural specialists can work towards helping these individuals overcome their mental disabilities and potentially provide a cure in the future.

References

Markman, A. (2010, November 9). Ulterior motives: how goals, both seen and unseen, drive behavior [Web log message]. Retrieved from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/ulterior-motives/201011/using-magic-tricks-study-autism