Predictability modulates neural response to eye contact in ASD.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Deficits in establishing and maintaining eye-contact are early and persistent vulnerabilities of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and the neural bases of these deficits remain elusive. A promising hypothesis is that social features of autism may reflect difficulties in making predictions about the social world under conditions of uncertainty. However, no research in ASD has examined how predictability impacts the neural processing of eye-contact in naturalistic interpersonal interactions.

Method

We used eye tracking to facilitate an interactive social simulation wherein onscreen faces would establish eye-contact when the participant looked at them. In Experiment One, receipt of eye-contact was unpredictable; in Experiment Two, receipt of eye-contact was predictable

SUBMITTER: Naples AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9618208 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature