Face and Object Discrimination in Autism, and Relationship to IQ and Age

Overview

Journal J Autism Dev Disord

Publisher Springer

Date 2013 Oct 24

PMID 24150884

Citations 13

Authors

Pamela M Pallett

Shereen J Cohen

Karen R Dobkins

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The current study tested fine discrimination of upright and inverted faces and objects in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) as compared to age- and IQ-matched controls. Discrimination sensitivity was tested using morphed faces and morphed objects, and all stimuli were equated in low-level visual characteristics (luminance, contrast, spatial frequency make-up). Participants with ASD exhibited slight, non-significant impairments in discrimination sensitivity for faces, yet significantly enhanced discrimination sensitivity for objects. The ASD group also showed a protracted development of face and object inversion effects. Finally, for ASD participants, face sensitivity improved with increasing IQ while object sensitivity improved with age. By contrast, for controls, face sensitivity improved with age, but neither face nor object sensitivity was influenced by IQ. These findings suggest that individuals with ASD follow a qualitatively different path in the development of face and object processing abilities.

Citing Articles

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