STIMULUS OVERSELECTIVITY IN AUTISTIC AND MENTALLY RETARDED CHILDREN–A RESEARCH NOTE

Abstract
Groups of autistic and mentally retarded children were compared for the degree of stimulus overselectivity manifested during test probes after discrimination learning. Stimulus overselectivity was a function of diagnostic category when groups were equated for performance IQ and mental age. Procedures used to obtain IQ as well as discrimination learning rate were also shown to be equivalent. Pulse rate response suggested that the test probes may be assessing performance during the early trials of a transfer problem for both groups of children. Implications for one-look models of discrimination learning were discussed.