Is visual metacognition associated with autistic traits? A regression analysis shows no link between visual metacognition and Autism-Spectrum Quotient scores.

This study looked at whether people with more autism-like traits have different abilities to judge how confident they are in their visual decisions. Researchers tested 360 people without autism diagnoses and found no connection between having autism-like traits and being good or bad at judging their own performance on visual tasks. This suggests that metacognition (knowing how well you're doing) might not be different in people with autism traits.

This study examined the relationship between visual metacognition (the ability to recognize correct decisions) and autistic traits in 360 neurotypical adults. Researchers measured metacognition through confidence-accuracy correspondence in visual tasks and assessed autistic traits using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ). Regression analysis found no statistically significant association between autistic traits and metacognitive sensitivity or confidence levels. Additionally, no relationships were found between any AQ subscales and metacognition measures.

The findings do not support the hypothesis that autistic traits are associated with differences in visual metacognition within the general population.

Results suggest metacognitive interventions may not need specific modifications for individuals with autism traits. However, findings from neurotypical populations may not apply to diagnosed autism. Further research needed in clinical autism populations before drawing therapeutic conclusions.

Study limited to neurotypical participants and visual tasks only. Cannot generalize to diagnosed autism populations. Single study contradicting some previous research. Metacognition measured only through visual domain, may not reflect broader metacognitive abilities.

Metacognition -the human ability to recognize correct decisions- is a key cognitive process linked to learning and development. Several recent studies investigated the relationship between metacognition and autism. However, the evidence is still inconsistent. While some studies reported autistic people having lower levels of metacognitive sensitivity, others did not.

Leveraging the fact that autistic traits are present in the general population, our study investigated the relationship between visual metacognition and autistic traits in a sample of 360 neurotypical participants. We measured metacognition as the correspondence between confidence and accuracy in a visual two alternative forced choice task. Autistic-traits were assessed through the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ) score. A regression analysis revealed no statistically significant association between autistic traits and metacognition or confidence.

Furthermore, we found no link between AQ sub-scales and metacognition. We do not find support for the hypothesis that autistic traits are associated with metacognition in the general population.