Choice Switching and Autism

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Pre-screening; Behavioral: Task session

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 114

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Israel
  • Haifa, Israel
    • Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

We will recruit participants using websites for recruiting experimental participants worldwide.

Description

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).

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Intervention / Treatment

Study participation; All participants will complete the same protocol

Diagnostic test: 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.; Behavioral: 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)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Mean run size	Number of consecutive selections from the same deck (across trials and in different blocks).	Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Advantageous selections	Percentage of advantageous selections(across trials and in different blocks).	Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Technion, Israel Institute of Technology
• Investigators: Study Director: Dana Zeif, MSc, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology; Study Director: Ofir Yakobi, PhD, University of Waterloo; Principal Investigator: Eldad Yechaim, Professor, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

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

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): January 1, 2021
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): August 13, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): September 13, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 4, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 10, 2020
• First Posted (ACTUAL): November 17, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): April 27, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2022
• Last Verified: April 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Decision Making; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autistic Disorder; Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 109171; Technion institute 109171 (OTHER_GRANT: Technion - Israel Institute of Technology)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Study Data/Documents

1. Statistical Analysis Plan
2. Study Protocol
3. Informed Consent Form

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No