Autism-Spectrum Quotient Is Associated with Observational Skill Acquisition in Healthy Young Adults

Although observational motor learning is one method of skill acquisition, this type of motor learning is not equally effective for all individuals. To clarify factors associated with the effectiveness of motor learning, we examined the association between model-observational skill acquisition and the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), which is reportedly associated with motor learning via visual information. Twenty healthy adults performed the Kendama task. The participants practiced under three conditions: using their own methods (self), following observation of model actions (model-observation), and following observation of their own actions (self-observation). Measurement trials were performed 20 times prior to self-practice sessions and after each practice session. Success ratios were calculated for each measurement trial. All participants completed the AQ. The difference in success ratios for measurement sessions following practices between the self and model-observation conditions was significantly negatively correlated with AQ scores. Individuals with low AQ values can more easily acquire skills via model-observational motor learning than those with relatively higher AQ values.