ERP Correlates of Procedural Learning: Designing a Task for Children with Autism
ERP Correlates of Procedural Learning: Designing a Task for Children with Autism
Suzanna Hirsch
Abstract
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Throughout this whole process there were numerous people who made my thesis-writing experience possible, in addition to quite a few others who helped make it more enjoyable. First, I would like to thank everyone at the Laboratories of Cognitive Neuroscience for giving me the opportunity to work on this study and to extend it into a thesis. To Shafali Jeste for encouraging me to take this project on from the very beginning, for helping me in her spare time from literally across the entire country, and also in general for being an awesome and inspiring mentor. Also to Margaret Sheridan who so kindly obliged to spend several long, sunny Saturdays teaching me about ERPs, ANOVAs, and sweat artifact season. I truly appreciate all the off-hours time and effort they both put into allowing me to make this happen. I would also like to thank Matt Kurtz, whose passion for neuroscience was contagious in NS&B 213 and who has unfailingly continued to inspire me in the many semesters since – thank you for advising me on this project at Wesleyan and for offering consistent support and helpful suggestions all along the way. Also thank you to Anna Shusterman, who rendered me eternally perplexed and compelled about the role of language in thought, and to Charles Sanislow for taking the time to be readers on this thesis. To the ladies of 44 Home, I want to thank you for coaxing me out of my carrel to participate in civilization, and also just for being fantastic people as always. Also to my fellow thesis writers and other Olin regulars – it was a pleasure procrastinating with you all. Lastly, I want to thank my wonderful family for their incredible support in everything I do. To Dad and Dena for taking the time to read this entire manuscript despite their admittedly minimal prior interest in autism or procedural learning. Also, to Mom for being a reliable listener, faithful editor, and a fielder of APA style questions at any time, day or night.