Multimodal pathways to joint attention in infants with a familial history of autism
Lauren M Smith1, Julia Yurkovic-Harding2, Leslie J Carver1
1University of California, San Diego - Department of Psychology, Ja Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
Insights
Infants with a family history of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) engage in joint attention (JA) similarly to other infants. However, parents of infants with an increased likelihood of ASD used more face-following cues to establish JA.
Area of Science:
- Developmental psychology
- Neurodevelopmental disorders
- Infant behavior
Background:
- Joint attention (JA) enables shared focus on objects between caregivers and infants.
- JA deficits are a hallmark of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), observable early via face-following.
- JA may also develop through hand-following pathways, a less-studied area in infants at high risk for ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate joint attention (JA) development in infants with (FH+) and without (FH-) a family history of ASD at 6, 9, and 12 months.
- To examine differences in JA pathways (face-following vs. hand-following) used by infants and parents.
- To explore how early motor or social behaviors might influence JA coordination in infants at high familial risk for ASD.
Main Methods:
- Study included parent-infant dyads with (FH+) and without (FH-) a family history of ASD.
- Interactions were recorded via Zoom during home play sessions.
- Offline coding analyzed infant gaze and parent/infant hand movements to assess JA engagement and pathways.
Main Results:
- FH+ and FH- infants demonstrated comparable overall time spent in joint attention (JA).
- Significant differences were observed in the cues preceding JA.
- Parents of FH+ infants exerted more effort to establish JA, utilizing more face-following than hand-following cues compared to parents of FH- infants.
Conclusions:
- Early motor differences in FH+ infants may influence social coordination and JA development.
- Parental strategies for establishing JA differ based on infant family history, potentially adapting to infant cues.
- Multimodal JA pathways warrant further investigation in understanding early social development in infants at risk for ASD.
Abstract:
Joint attention (JA) is an early-developing behavior that allows caregivers and infants to share focus on an object. Deficits in JA, as measured through face-following pathways, are a defining feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are observable as early as 12 months of age in infants later diagnosed with ASD. However, recent evidence suggests that JA may be achieved through hand-following pathways by children with and without ASD. Development of JA through multimodal pathways has yet to be studied in infants with an increased likelihood of developing ASD. The current study investigated how 6-, 9- and 12-month-old infants with (FH+) and without (FH-) a family history of ASD engaged in JA. Parent-infant dyads played at home while we recorded the interaction over Zoom and later offline coded for hand movements and gaze. FH+ and FH- infants spent similar amounts of time in JA with their parents, but the cues available before JA were different. Parents of FH+ infants did more work to establish JA and used more face-following than hand-following pathways compared to parents of FH- infants, likely reflecting differences in infant motor or social behavior. These results suggest that early motor differences between FH+ and FH- infants may cascade into differences in social coordination.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings....
01:15Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...
01:21Association Areas of the Cortex
Prefrontal Association Area: This area is located in the frontal lobe and is involved in planning, decision-making, and moderating social behavior. It connects with primary motor areas,...
01:26Modeling in Therapy
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
01:29Overview of Somatic Sensory Pathways
The somatosensory system is divided into three main pathways: the dorsal (or posterior) column-medial lemniscus, spinothalamic (or anterolateral), and spinocerebellar pathways.
The dorsal...