Jennifer C. Gidley Larson
Papers
1
Total Citations
119
H-Index
1
About
Jennifer C. Gidley Larson’s research sits at the vital intersection of motor learning, developmental neuroscience, and autism spectrum disorders. Her most-cited work, “Acquisition of internal models of motor tasks in children with autism” (119 citations), fundamentally advanced our understanding of why children with autism struggle with motor skills like tool use and riding a tricycle. By demonstrating that these children have a specific deficit in forming internal models—the brain’s predictive maps of sensory consequences—she reframed motor difficulties not as mere clumsiness but as a core cognitive challenge. This insight has profound implications for designing targeted interventions that scaffold internal model formation. Larson’s contributions have shaped how researchers and clinicians view motor development in autism, moving the field beyond behavioral observation toward mechanistic understanding. Her work continues to influence therapies that help children build predictive motor skills, improving their coordination, independence, and quality of life. For students and researchers, Larson’s research offers a powerful example of how dissecting basic learning processes can illuminate the hidden architecture of neurodevelopmental conditions.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Acquisition of internal models of motor tasks in children with autism119 citations · 2008