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The Relation Between Autistic Traits, the Degree of Synaesthesia, and Local/Global Visual Perception.

ABSTRACT: Synaesthesia is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder. We assessed the relation between the degree of autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ) and the degree of synaesthesia in a neurotypical population, and hypothesized both are related to a local bias in visual perception. A positive correlation between total AQ scores and the degree of synaesthesia was found, extending previous studies in clinical populations. Consistent with our hypothesis, AQ-attention to detail scores were related to increased performance on an Embedded Figures Task and reduced susceptibility to visual illusions. We found no relation between autistic traits and performance on a motion coherence task, and no relation between synaesthesia and local visual perception. Possibly, this relation is reserved for supra-threshold synaesthetes.

SUBMITTER: Burghoorn F

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6946735 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Relation Between Autistic Traits, the Degree of Synaesthesia, and Local/Global Visual Perception.

Burghoorn Floor F Dingemanse Mark M van Lier Rob R van Leeuwen Tessa M TM

Journal of autism and developmental disorders 20200101 1

Synaesthesia is highly prevalent in autism spectrum disorder. We assessed the relation between the degree of autistic traits (Autism Spectrum Quotient, AQ) and the degree of synaesthesia in a neurotypical population, and hypothesized both are related to a local bias in visual perception. A positive correlation between total AQ scores and the degree of synaesthesia was found, extending previous studies in clinical populations. Consistent with our hypothesis, AQ-attention to detail scores were rel ...[more]

PMID: 31522308

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