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Left visual field biases when infants process faces: a comparison of infants at high- and low-risk for autism
Eva Dundas1, Holly Gastgeb, Mark S Strauss
1Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Insights
Infants at high risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show altered face processing, lacking a typical left visual field bias by 11 months. This suggests early differences in visual attention may contribute to later ASD challenges.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Infant Psychology
- Visual Perception
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with facial processing difficulties.
- The early developmental origins of these deficits remain largely unexplored.
- Infant siblings of children with ASD are considered high-risk for developing the condition.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the emergence of visual attention patterns in infants at high and low risk for ASD.
- To examine early differences in face processing between high-risk and low-risk infants.
Main Methods:
- Eye-tracking technology was employed to record infant visual attention.
- 6- and 11-month-old infants (high-risk and low-risk for ASD) viewed facial images.
- Attention to specific facial regions (eyes, mouth) was analyzed.
Main Results:
- Low-risk infants developed a left visual field bias by 11 months, consistent with typical development.
- High-risk infants did not exhibit this left visual field bias at 6 or 11 months.
- No significant differences in attention to eye or mouth regions were found between risk groups.
Conclusions:
- Early-appearing differences in visual attention patterns may be an indicator of later autism spectrum disorder.
- The absence of a left visual field bias in high-risk infants suggests atypical face processing from an early age.
- These findings highlight potential early biomarkers for ASD.
Abstract:
While it is well-known that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties processing faces, very little is known about the origins of these deficits. The current study focused on 6- and 11-month-old infants who were at either high-risk (n = 43) or low-risk (n = 31) for developing ASD based on having a sibling already diagnosed with the disorder. Eye-tracking data were collected while the infants viewed color photographs of faces. Similar to previous studies with both typically developing adults and infants, low-risk infants demonstrated a preference for looking at the left side of the face (known as a left visual field bias) that emerged by 11 months of age. In contrast, high-risk infants did not demonstrate a left visual field bias at either age. Comparisons of the amount of attention given to the eye versus mouth regions indicated no differences between the two risk groups.
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