Journal international de neuroréadaptation

Total Reaction Time Performance of Individuals with Autism after a Virtual Reality Task

Abstract

Dafne Herrero*, Tânia Brusque Crocetta, Thais Massetti, Íbis Ariana Pena de Moraes, Isabela Lopes Trevizan, Regiani Guarnieri, Gilda Pena de Rezende, Karina Ponce Villaça and Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro

Evidence suggests that people with autism perform simple reaction time (RT) tasks differently than typically developing (TD) individuals. The current study examines this possibility by investigating the simple total reaction time (TRT) performance and examined effects of practice on a virtual reality motor task (VRMT) in participants with autism. Twenty-seven participants diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and twenty-seven TD participants completed a TRT test alternated with a VRMT. Significant increases in TRT measures were found postpractice with the VRMT only in the female autistic group. These findings suggest that the VRMT is a promising tool for improving visual RT functioning in autistic individuals.