Orienting to and away from the eyes in infants at high likelihood for autism when scanning faces

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

• Reduced gaze towards eyes is a characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• Understanding the mechanisms behind this reduced eye-gazing in infants at high likelihood (HL) for autism is crucial for early detection.
• Existing research suggests potential roles for heightened arousal or indifference.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the underlying mechanisms of reduced eye-gazing in infants at high likelihood for autism.
• To differentiate between eye avoidance due to arousal and indifference to the eyes.
• To contribute to the understanding of atypical face scanning patterns in autism.

Main Methods:

• Utilized eye-tracking technology with infants at high likelihood (HL) for autism and typically developing (TD) infants (within 24 months).
• Measured gaze latency to orient away from guided regions (eyes/mouth) and towards the eyes.
• Assessed secondary fixation location and latency to orient away from the eyes after initial guidance.

Main Results:

• HL infants exhibited significantly less eye-gazing compared to TD infants.
• HL infants showed slower orientation towards eyes when initially guided to the mouth.
• Following guidance to the eyes, HL infants demonstrated less secondary fixation on the eye region and a tendency for shorter latency to look away.

Conclusions:

• Reduced eye-gazing in HL infants is associated with both avoidance and indifference towards the eyes.
• These findings enhance theoretical understanding of atypical face scanning in autism.
• The study provides valuable insights for developing early screening tools and intervention protocols for autism.