Gaze-Speech Coordination During Narration in Autism Spectrum Disorder and First-Degree Relatives.

ABSTRACT: Background/Objectives: Narrative differences in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and subtle and parallel differences among their first-degree relatives suggest potential genetic liability to this critical social-communication skill. Effective social-communication relies on coordinating signals across modalities, which is often disrupted in ASD. Therefore, the current study examined the coordination of fundamental skills-gaze and speech-as a potential mechanism underlying narrative and broader pragmatic differences in ASD and their first-degree relatives. Methods: Participants included 35 autistic individuals, 41 non-autistic individuals, 90 parents of autistic individuals, and 34 parents of non-autistic individuals. Participants narrated a wordless picture book presented on an

SUBMITTER: Xing J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12839432 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature