Slow segmentation of faces in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Atypical visual segmentation, affecting object perception, might contribute to face processing problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study investigated impairments in visual segmentation of faces in ASD. Thirty participants (ASD: 16; Control: 14) viewed texture-defined faces, house...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neuropsychologia 2019-04, Vol.127, p.1-8
Main Authors: van den Boomen, C., Fahrenfort, J.J., Snijders, T.M., Kemner, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
ASD
Autism Spectrum Disorder - physiopathology
Autism Spectrum Disorder - psychology
Brain Mapping
EEG
Electroencephalography
Evoked Potentials
Face
Facial Expression
Facial Recognition
Female
Humans
Individuality
Male
Photic Stimulation
Psychomotor Performance
Segregation
Visual Cortex - physiopathology
Visual Perception
Young Adult
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Summary:Atypical visual segmentation, affecting object perception, might contribute to face processing problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study investigated impairments in visual segmentation of faces in ASD. Thirty participants (ASD: 16; Control: 14) viewed texture-defined faces, houses, and homogeneous images, while electroencephalographic and behavioral responses were recorded. The ASD group showed slower face-segmentation related brain activity and longer segmentation reaction times than the control group, but no difference in house-segmentation related activity or behavioral performance. Furthermore, individual differences in face-segmentation but not house-segmentation correlated with score on the Autism Quotient. Segmentation is thus selectively impaired for faces in ASD, and relates to the degree of ASD traits. Face segmentation relates to recurrent connectivity from the fusiform face area (FFA) to the visual cortex. These findings thus suggest that atypical connectivity from the FFA might contribute to delayed face processing in ASD. •Atypical visual segmentation might contribute to impaired face perception.•Segmentation of faces and houses was investigated in Autism Spectrum Disorder.•Electroencephalography (EEG) measures showed delayed face segmentation.•Behavioral measures showed longer reaction times for face and house segmentation.•EEG and behavioral results correlated with the degree of Autism traits.
ISSN:0028-3932
1873-3514
DOI:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2019.02.005