Comparison of face attention bias in adults with ASD, ADHD, or comorbid ADHD+ASD.

ABSTRACT: Faces are special for humans. This importance is reflected in increased relative attention to faces, referred to as face attention bias (FAB). This preregistered study investigated FAB transdiagnostically in two neurodevelopmental disorders associated with social symptoms, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). We assessed exogenous selective attention to faces using a dot-probe paradigm in adults with ASD, adults with ADHD, adults with both and non-clinical comparison adults. While comparison adults showed FAB as expected, adults with ASD did not. Yet, the between-group difference in FAB was not credible, contrary to our hypothesis. Critically, adults with ADHD but no ASD showed increased FAB, suggesting heightened exogenous selective attention

SUBMITTER: Plank IS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12706865 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature