Table 1.
Overview of characteristics of time-based prospective memory studies in autism spectrum disorder
| Author, year | Participants | Task characteristics | Filler tasks/delay interval | Authors concluded PM impairment in ASD group (Hedges’g)a | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sample size (male per group) | Mean age per group (range) | Ongoing task | # of PM trials | |||
| Altgassen et al. (2009) |
n
ASD = 11 (n.s.) n NT = 11 (n.s.) |
ASD 9.6 (7–15) NT 10.6 (7–16) |
Visuospatial working memory task | 5 trials | Yes, ~10 min | Yes (g = −0.91) |
| Altgassen et al. (2012)* |
n
ASD = 25 (20 male) n NT = 25 (19 male) |
ASD 21.8 (15–41) NT 21.8 (15–42) |
Dresden Breakfast task | 2 trials | Yes , ~15 min | Yes (g = −0.94) |
| Williams et al. (2013)** |
n
ASD = 21 (20 male) n NT = 21 (17 male) |
ASD 10.6 (7.8–13.8) NT 10.6 (8–12) |
Computer-based driving game simulation | 6 trials | No | Yes (g = −0.66) |
| Williams et al. (2014)** |
n
ASD = 17 (14 male) n NT = 17 (14 male) |
ASD 31.1 (19.1–54.6) NT 31.9 (17.7–58.8) |
Word memorisation task | 5 trials | No | Yes (g = −0.66) |
| Henry et al. (2014)* |
n
ASD = 30 (24 male) n NT = 30 (19 male) |
ASD 10.1 (8–12) NT 10 (8–12) |
Virtual week game, 2 within-subject condition (high vs. low task absorption) | 12 trials across 3 virtual days, (2 regular/2 irregular per virtual day) | No | Yes (g = −1.02) |
| Kretschmer et al. (2014)* |
n
ASD = 27 (9 male) n NT = 27 (2 male) |
ASD 35.6 (19–58) NT 39.9 (21–52) |
Virtual week game, 2 between-subject encoding conditions (implementation intentions vs. standard) | 12 trials across 3 virtual days, (2 regular/2 irregular per virtual day) | No | Yes (g = −1.01) |
n.s. not specified
*Time- and event-based PM task within the same condition
**Time- and event-based PM task in separate conditions
aEffect sizes represent the standardised bias-corrected mean difference Hedges’g (calculation according to Lipsey and Wilson 2001)