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Behavioral differences between infants at and not at elevated risk for autism during a contingency paradigm

Marcelo R Rosales1, José Carlos Pulido2, John Sideris3

  • 1College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.

Plos One
|January 23, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Infants at higher likelihood of autism (HLA) and lower likelihood of autism (LLA) showed similar learning behaviors. However, some HLA infants displayed unique visual-motor patterns, indicating potential heterogeneity in early autism development.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental neuroscience
  • Autism spectrum disorder research
  • Infant motor development

Background:

  • Motor impairments are observed in infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Limited research compares motor behaviors between infants at higher likelihood of autism (HLA) and lower likelihood of autism (LLA).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify and describe behavioral differences in infants at HLA versus LLA during a contingency learning task.
  • To investigate early motor and gaze behaviors as potential indicators of autism risk.

Main Methods:

  • Thirty infants (6-9 months) were divided into HLA and LLA groups (n=15 each).
  • A contingency learning paradigm involved infants' leg movements activating a robot.
  • Gaze behaviors, robot activations, and learning were assessed and compared between groups.

Main Results:

  • No significant group differences were found in overall looking duration, anticipatory gazes, or robot activations.
  • Four infants in the HLA group exhibited qualitatively distinct visual-motor patterns.
  • Early learning appeared similar between HLA and LLA infants based on behavioral measures.

Conclusions:

  • Infants at higher and lower likelihood of autism utilize comparable behaviors for contingency learning.
  • Heterogeneity exists within the higher likelihood infant group, warranting further investigation.
  • Early motor and gaze behaviors may not differentiate between HLA and LLA infants in this task, but subtle differences warrant deeper exploration.
Abstract

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