The Anticipation of Punishment Has a Large Effect on the Decision Making of ASD

Background: In author’s previous research, we suggested that the anticipation of punishment has a major effect on decision making on children with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). But there are few reports in which the effects of anticipation of punishment in ASD have been investigated. Therefore, in this research, we examined the effect of the anticipation of punishment in decision making of children with ASD.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine how the anticipation of punishment effects decision making of children with ASD.

Methods: 13 children with ASD (13.4±2.3 years, FIQ > 80) and 16 control children (12.4±1.4 years) were recruited. All participants completed the safe or risky alternative task on laptop computer in quiet room. In this task, two alternatives, the safe alternative and the risky one, were presented on monitor at one time, and the results that occurred after selecting each alternative were represented on each alternative. Participants continued to choose one of two alternatives for collecting points as many as possible. When participants selected the safe alternative, participants got unfailingly points that were manifested at the safe alternative. When participants selected the risky alternative, participants had a chance of getting more points than safe alternative’s points, but also had the potential of losing points participant had gotten. Under the 20 condition that participants could get 20 points with selecting the safe alternative, risky alternatives were 7 types, “50 or 10” “50 or 0” “50 or -20” “50 or -40” “50 or -60” “50 or -80” “50 or -100”. Under 40 condition that participants could get 40 points with selecting safe alternative, risky alternatives were also 7 types, “100 or 10” “100 or 0” “100 or -20” “100 or -40” “100 or -60” “100 or -80” “100 or -100”. The probabilities participants could get many points in risky alternative were 3 types, 25%, 50% and 75%. This probability is presented by using a pie chart on the risky alternative. Participants carried out total 21 ( 7×3) trials in 20 condition, and 21 (7×3) trials in 40 condition.

Results: In both the 20 condition and the 40 condition, and in all probability condition, control group gradually reduced the number of participants who chose the risky alternative as the amount of punishment was increasing, On the other hand, ASD group selected less risky alternatives when the risky alternative had the possibility of losing points participants had gotten.

Conclusions: ASD children averted losing points that they had gotten. This result means that the decision making of children with ASD is more influenced by the existence of punishment than control. In other words, the anticipation of punishment has a large effect on the decision making of ASD.