Neurophysiological correlates of relatively enhanced local visual search in autistic adolescents
2007

Visual Search in Autistic Adolescents

Sample size: 24 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Manjaly Zina M., Bruning Nicole, Neufang Susanne, Stephan Klaas E., Brieber Sarah, Marshall John C., Kamp-Becker Inge, Remschmidt Helmut, Herpertz-Dahlmann Beate, Konrad Kerstin, Fink Gereon R.

Primary Institution: Research Centre Jülich

Hypothesis

Does enhanced local processing in autistic adolescents result from amplified early perceptual processes rather than impaired global context processing?

Conclusion

The study suggests that enhanced local processing in early visual areas is characteristic of autistic patients' performance on the Embedded Figures Task.

Supporting Evidence

  • Autistic individuals performed unimpaired on the Embedded Figures Task.
  • fMRI results showed different activation patterns in autistic patients compared to controls.
  • Activations specific for local search were found in early visual areas for autistic patients.

Takeaway

Kids with autism are really good at finding hidden shapes in pictures, but they might not be as good at other types of visual tasks.

Methodology

The study used fMRI to compare brain activity between 12 autistic adolescents and 12 matched controls while performing the Embedded Figures Task and a control task.

Potential Biases

Potential biases may arise from the small sample size and the specific diagnostic criteria used for participant selection.

Limitations

The sample size was small, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.

Participant Demographics

12 autistic adolescents (9 with Asperger syndrome and 3 with high-functioning autism) and 12 matched controls, all right-handed.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.001

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1016/j.neuroimage.2006.11.036

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