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Comparing Eye-tracking Data of Children with High-functioning ASD, Comorbid ADHD, and of a Control Watching Social Videos
Published on: December 7, 2018
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Eye contact perception in high-functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder
Shota Uono1,2, Sayaka Yoshimura1,2, Motomi Toichi1,2
1Kyoto University, Japan.
Autism : the International Journal of Research and Practice
|August 28, 2020
Summary
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive self-directed gazes similarly to typically developing individuals. However, ASD does not show the typical ingroup bias in gaze perception, possibly due to different emotional responses.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Perceptual Psychology
Background:
- Self-directed gaze detection is crucial for social interaction.
- Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit difficulties with gaze discrimination.
- Limited research exists on how ASD affects the perception of self-directed gaze compared to neurotypical individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in self-directed gaze perception between individuals with and without ASD.
- To examine the influence of ingroup versus outgroup faces on gaze perception in ASD.
- To explore the role of affective experiences in gaze perception biases in ASD.
Main Methods:
- Participants (with and without ASD) viewed faces with varying gaze directions.
- Participants judged whether the gaze was directed at them.
- Ingroup and outgroup status of faces was manipulated.
Main Results:
- Both groups equally perceived subtle averted gazes as self-directed.
- Perception of self-directed gaze decreased with increasing gaze aversion in both groups.
- Typically developing individuals showed an ingroup bias for self-directed gaze perception, unlike individuals with ASD.
- Individuals with ASD reported different affective responses to ingroup and outgroup faces.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with ASD demonstrate comparable ability to typically developing individuals in perceiving self-directed gazes.
- ASD is associated with a diminished ingroup bias in self-directed gaze perception.
- Atypical emotional experiences may underlie the reduced ingroup bias observed in ASD.
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