Attention Allocation in ASD: a Review and Meta-analysis of Eye-Tracking Studies

Abstract

Research on attention allocation to social and non-social stimuli in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has produced mixed results, with some studies suggesting that attention allocation is atypical in ASD (e.g., Klin, Jones, Schultz, Vokmar, & Cohen, 2002) and others finding no significant differences in attention allocation patterns when comparing individuals with ASD to typically developing (TD) controls (e.g., Parish-Morris et al. 2013). This meta-analysis aggregates results from 68 articles that compared individuals with ASD with TD controls, using eye-tracking measures of attention. As an index of attention allocation, mean effect sizes for looking time to six areas of interest (AOIs) are computed in this meta-analysis: eyes, mouth, face, body, non-social elements, and the whole screen. The results suggest the presence of atypical attention allocation in ASD, indicated by small but significant effect sizes: overall reduced attention to the eyes (d = 0.33), mouth (d = 0.25), and face (d = 0.4); increased attention to the body (d = −0.48) and non-social elements (d = −0.34); and reduced attention to the screen (d = 0.53). This pattern of findings suggests less accessing of social information by individuals with ASD. The results are discussed in light of future research directions.