Drawing the inner world: exploring autistic perception through virtual reality art-making.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• First-person accounts of perceptual experience in autism are underrepresented in psychological research.
• Understanding autistic perception is crucial for developing effective support and interventions.
• Immersive media offers novel avenues for exploring subjective experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how autistic adults utilize virtual reality (VR) for externalizing and reflecting on their perceptual experiences.
• To investigate the potential of VR drawing as a participatory method for understanding autism.
• To examine the themes and individual differences emerging from VR-based creative expression in autistic adults.

Main Methods:

• Six autistic adults completed a VR protocol involving free drawing in Open Brush, the Think Aloud method, and interviews.
• Participants also completed the Autism Quotient (AQ) and Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ) to profile sensory and cognitive characteristics.
• Verbal reports, interviews, and digital drawings underwent reflexive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Three main themes emerged: immersion, artistic expression and individuality, and escapism.
• Participants found VR calming, engaging, and controllable, allowing for sensory demand adjustment.
• Creative VR drawings were highly individual, reflecting personal interests and sensory preferences, with quantitative scores highlighting heterogeneity in sensory sensitivity.

Conclusions:

• VR drawing is a feasible and valuable neurodiversity-affirming participatory method for autistic adults.
• This approach can facilitate the communication of autistic perceptual experiences to non-autistic audiences.
• Potential applications exist in therapeutic contexts and in advancing research on autistic perception.