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Updated: Aug 19, 2026

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism
09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

Early-life trajectories of dyadic synchrony among infants developing autism or concerns for ADHD

Antonia M H Piergies1,2, Ana-Maria Iosif3, Gregory S Young2

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, United States.

Child Development
|August 18, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Infants later diagnosed with autism showed lower caregiver-child synchrony from 6 to 36 months compared to typically developing peers. This early dyadic synchrony may be a key developmental indicator.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Child Psychiatry

Background:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are neurodevelopmental conditions impacting social interaction and behavior.
  • Early identification and understanding of developmental trajectories are crucial for timely intervention.
  • Dyadic synchrony, reflecting coordinated interaction between caregivers and infants, is a potential early marker.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate developmental trajectories of dyadic synchrony in infants at elevated likelihood for autism or ADHD.
  • To compare dyadic synchrony patterns between infants who developed autism, ADHD concerns, or typical development by 36 months.
  • To examine specific behavioral modalities contributing to synchrony differences.

Main Methods:

  • Longitudinal study of 163 infants (elevated/average risk for autism/ADHD) from 6 to 36 months.
  • Caregiver-child dyads engaged in play sessions coded for gaze, positive affect, and vocalizations.
  • Mixed-effects models estimated developmental trajectories of dyadic synchrony.

Main Results:

  • Infants with autism outcomes exhibited significantly lower overall dyadic synchrony from 6 to 36 months compared to the comparison group.
  • Unique patterns of actor responsiveness were observed across behavioral modalities, with varied evidence for group differences.
  • No significant differences in synchrony were found between the ADHD concerns group and the comparison group.

Conclusions:

  • Lower early dyadic synchrony is associated with autism outcomes in high-risk infants.
  • Specific interactional patterns may differentiate developmental trajectories.
  • Further research is needed to link synchrony to developmental milestones and long-term outcomes.

Keywords:
ADHDautismdevelopmental trajectoriesdyadic synchrony

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