A POSSIBLE NEW FUNCTION OF REPETITIVE BEHAVIOURS IN AUTISTIC SPECTRUM DISORDER

• Authors: Nemeth Georgina
• Languages of publication: HU

Abstracts

EN

Repetitive behaviours in general are present in different neurological, psychiatric and developmental disorders, but certain types of these behaviours are characteristically autism-specific. Some theories take them as overt outputs of neurological and biochemical deficits, others invest them with adaptive functions. After outlining the main approaches a new theory is introduced concerning the possible function of repetitive behaviours, according to which these repetitions induce a certain altered state of consciousness, generated by the given individual for herself, aiming at a calming-effect via reducing the arousal-level. The aim of this paper is to reflect upon theoretically whether the neurochemical and neuroanatomical mechanisms behind repetitive behaviours in autistic spectrum disorder induce or contra-induce the formation of an altered state of consciousness. This problem - over and above its scientific significance - might contribute to the understanding of the nature of repetitive behaviours from a point of view quite ignored so far: that of subjective experiences accompanying overt behaviour. On the other hand, revealing the possible functions of these repetitions might serve as a basis for elaborating appropriate reactions to repetitive behaviours in clinical therapy.

Keywords

EN

ALTERED STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS; AROUSAL; AUTISM; DOPAMINE; ENDOGEN OPIATE; EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS; REPETITIVE BEHAVIOUR

Discipline

• PSYCHOLOGY: PSYCHOLOGY

• Publisher: Hungarian Association for Psychology
• Journal: Magyar Pszichologiai Szemle (Hungarian Psychological Review)
• Year: 2008
• Volume: 63
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 337-364
• Document type: ARTICLE

Contributors

author

Nemeth Georgina

• Georgina Nemeth, no address given, contact the journal editor

Identifiers

CEJSH db identifier

10HUAAAA074017