Glossary
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Embedded Figures TestA test of the
capacity to identify an individual component or shape from a visual pattern in
which it is embedded. | |
EmpathisingEmpathy is broadly
defined as the capacity to understand and 'enter into' another person's
emotions. Empathising has been defined by Baron-Cohen as recognising what
someone else is feeling and responding appropriately. This may mean feeling the
same emotion yourself, e.g. feeling sad when someone else is, and/or showing
them that you recognise their emotion, e.g. by trying to comfort them. (See
also Empathy Quotient (EQ), Empathising-systemising theory, Systemising and
Systemising Quotient (SQ).) | |
Empathising–systemising theoryA theory formulated
by Baron-Cohen, which proposes that autism is characterised by limited empathising
ability, combined with enhanced systemising. | |
Empathy Quotient (EQ)A questionnaire based
measure of empathising devised by Baron-Cohen and colleagues. A person’s overall
test score on the EQ is assumed to reflect their ability to empathise. Each
member of a population can receive a low, high or average score. On average,
females tend to score highest whereas people on the autism spectrum generally
have the lowest scores, although there is also considerable overlap. (See also
Empathising, Empathising-systemising theory, Systemising and Systemising
Quotient (SQ).) | |
Epigenetic influencesMost of a person’s
inherited characteristics are due to the sequences of units within the genes
making up their DNA, these changing from one generation to the next. Epigenetic
influences refer to additional changes in genes which are not due to changes in
the DNA sequence, but involve the addition or removal of small molecules to the
outside of the gene. These may determine whether the gene is ‘switched on’ or
‘switched off’, thus affecting whether a characteristic coded by the gene is
expressed or not. | |
EvaluationObjective assessment of an intervention, assessing its effectiveness,
which people with autism might benefit from it and whether there are any side
effects. | |
Evidence-based practiceThe approach widely
advocated in medicine, clinical psychology and psychiatry emphasising that
interventions and other clinical application must be informed by evidence
obtained in robust research evaluations. | |
Exceptional talentsIn relation to autism, this refers to an outstanding talent, often in the context of other difficulties. The talent may have appeared in early childhood, without having been taught or without the hours of practice which are regarded as required to develop a skill. (See also Savant talent.) | |
Executive functionA collective term for mental processes which control behaviour, such as planning, paying attention and being able to transfer attention from one task to another, inhibiting inappropriate responses, remembering and manipulating pieces of information, problem solving and generating new activities and ideas. | |