Central coherence theory

• Global vs local processing

  Local- deal with in everyday events, analyse fine details and different elements of a task.

  Global- how details fit together ‘bigger picture’.
• Frith- strong central coherence is our ability to identity most relevant information and form meaningful understanding.

  Remembering the overall ‘gist of a conversation’ but struggle to recall specific details. Universal- understand words with different meanings.
• This is weak in those with ASD. Less likely pay attention to context with isolate details. When presented with lots of information- pick out singular details and focus on them
• Excel at tasks with focus of picking out details. More local not global.
• It is a cognitive preference. A continuum. Generally distributed in the population. Some have extremely weak – ASD. But an equally small proportion have really strong.
•   Positive. Doesn’t claim damaging cognitive deficit is a primary impairment in ASD. Recognise superiority in local processing.
• It is a preference therefore can be overcome. Most people with ASD would be able to understand the gist of a conversation.
• Lessens stigma around the disorder.
• Shah and Frith- experiment, smaller blocks to construct a bigger block pattern. Those with ASD perform better. Lost performance when already broken up – no need for local processing. No better. Validity. Proves ASD and details.
• Also explain non-social aspects- obsessive interests and repetitive behaviour.
• Doesn’t explain how preference is determined. How it operates. What part of brain. Use other explanations to fill gap. – Systemising-empathising theory.