The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	Semantic impairments in neurodevelopmental disorder
Language	J
AuthorList	Shizuka Sakuta¹⁾, Mamoru Hashimoto²⁾
Affiliation	¹⁾Esaka Hospital ²⁾Department of Psychiatry, Graduate School of Medicine Osaka University
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 36 (4), 189-196, 2020
Received
Accepted
Abstract	The neurodevelopmental disorders are a group of conditions with onset in the developmental period. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, including deficits in social reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and skills in developing, maintaining and understanding relationships. The deficits in the development and use of language are included in social communication impairments in ASD. Several theories have explained the background of the deficits in development and use of language in ASD. One of the psychological processes related to limited verbal ability in ASD is the 'symbol use', which is the similar concept to semantic memory. Also, weak central coherence and impairment of generalization are speculated as background of characteristic verbal disability in ASD. We proposed the usefulness of paying attention to the course of development and use of semantic memory in both typical development and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Keywords	semantic memory, autism spectrum disorder, symbol use, weak central coherence, generalization