Autism spectrum traits predict the neural response to eye gaze in typical individuals.

ABSTRACT: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterised by impaired social interaction and communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviours. The severity of these characteristics are posited to lie on a continuum extending into the typical population, and typical adults' performance on behavioural tasks that are impaired in ASD is correlated with the extent to which they display autistic traits (as measured by Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ). Individuals with ASD also show structural and functional differences in brain regions involved in social perception. Here we show that variation in AQ in typically developing individuals is associated with altered brain activity in the neural circuit for social attention perception while viewing others' eye gaze. In a

SUBMITTER: Nummenmaa L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3315678 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature