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Are people with autism prosopagnosic?
Todd Kamensek1,2, Tirta Susilo3, Grace Iarocci4
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Summary
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) do not have a distinct prosopagnosia subtype. Face processing deficits in ASD show continuous variation, not a categorical split, suggesting different causes than developmental prosopagnosia.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Social Cognition
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is associated with difficulties in face processing.
- Previous research shows mixed findings, with some studies reporting impairments and others not.
- A hypothesis suggested a prosopagnosic subtype within ASD as a cause for this heterogeneity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether a subpopulation of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit developmental prosopagnosia (DP).
- To determine if the heterogeneity in face processing abilities within ASD can be explained by a prosopagnosic subtype.
- To compare face processing in adults with ASD, adults with DP, and neurotypical controls.
Main Methods:
- Examined three groups: adults with ASD, adults with developmental prosopagnosia (DP), and a comparison group.
- Assessed face processing abilities across these groups.
- Analyzed the pattern of heterogeneity in face processing deficits within the ASD group.
Main Results:
- The prosopagnosic subpopulation hypothesis was not supported.
- Face processing deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterized by continuous and graded heterogeneity, not a categorical split.
- Individuals with ASD demonstrated a wide range of face processing skills, including mild to moderate deficits.
Conclusions:
- The findings do not support a distinct prosopagnosic subtype within the broader autism spectrum.
- Heterogeneity in face processing in ASD is continuous, suggesting it does not stem from a specific prosopagnosic subgroup.
- The etiological origins of face processing deficits in some individuals with ASD may differ from those in developmental prosopagnosia.
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