Mechanisms of Diminished Attention to Eyes in Autism.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Two hypotheses, gaze aversion and gaze indifference, are commonly cited to explain a diagnostic hallmark of autism: reduced attention to others' eyes. The two posit different areas of atypical brain function, different pathogenic models of disability, and different possible treatments. Evidence for and against each hypothesis is mixed but has thus far focused on older children and adults. The authors evaluated both mechanistic hypotheses in two sets of experiments at the time of initial diagnosis.

Method

Eye-tracking data were collected in 86 2-year-olds: 26 with autism, tested at initial diagnosis; 38 matched typically developing children; and 22 matched developmentally delayed children. In two experiments, the authors measured response to direct and implicit cuei

SUBMITTER: Moriuchi JM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5842709 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature