Examining the diametric model of autistic and psychotic traits through temporal perception

Temporal visual processing deficits are well-documented in psychosis spectrum disorders and linked to core symptoms including hallucinations and cognitive disorganization. However, studying these mechanisms in isolation may overlook the influence of co-occurring autistic traits, which are increasingly recognized within psychosis populations. We hypothesized that psychosis-proneness and autistic traits would interactively affect temporal crowding. We investigated temporal crowding using an orientation-estimation task in neurotypical participants across two experiments (N₁ = 81, N₂ = 93). Participants viewed sequences of three randomly oriented stimuli at varying stimulus onset asynchronies (SOA: 200-400ms) and reported the middle item's orientation. Mixture models examined performance in terms of encoding precision, guessing rates, and substitution errors. The Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE) and Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) measured trait expression. Response surface analysis (RSA) mapped trait interactions. RSA revealed that balanced expressions of both traits (particularly when both were elevated) were associated with significantly reduced temporal order errors. These findings align with the diametric model, which suggests compensatory interactions between psychosis-proneness and autistic traits. Our findings extend this model to mid-to-high level perceptual mechanisms, suggesting that opposing cognitive tendencies can create mutual compensation at the perceptual level, with implications for understanding symptom heterogeneity across both conditions.