Perception and Action of Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities in Japanese Cognitive Psychology

This concise review introduces Japanese research exploring the role of language-based regulation in perception and action among individuals with intellectual disabilities. Earlier findings have validated that even in movements traditionally regarded as reflexive and automatic, such as optokinetic nystagmus and body swaying, individuals with intellectual disabilities who struggle with language-based action regulation might encounter difficulties in smooth and stable execution. The effectiveness of visual cues was also reported for movement by individuals with intellectual disabilities. The significance of assessing individuals with intellectual disabilities was emphasized by assessing their language-based action-regulation abilities alongside their other psychological abilities. Furthermore, the necessity for a more precise categorization of distinct intellectual disabilities was highlighted. The emphasis on perception and action in Japanese empirical psychology for individuals with intellectual disabilities aligns with current concepts in cognitive psychology such as affordances and embodied cognition.