Abstract
This study tested whether including objects perceived as highly interesting by children with autism during a gaze following task would result in increased first fixation durations on the target objects. It has previously been found that autistic children differentiate less between an object another person attends to and unattended objects in terms of this measure. Less differentiation between attended and unattended objects in ASD as compared to control children was found in a baseline condition, but not in the high interest condition. However, typically developing children differentiated less between attended and unattended objects in the high interest condition than in the baseline condition, possibly reflecting reduced influence of gaze cues on object processing when objects themselves are highly interesting.
Highlights
We are constantly surrounded by multiple stimuli competing for our attention
We aimed to test whether using objects that are common as circumscribed interests as targets in a gaze following task could improve sensitivity to contextual gaze cues in autism spectrum disorders (ASD)
As expected (Falck-Ytter et al 2015), a higher AUF-index was found in the typically developing (TD) as compared to ASD group when the children looked at objects that are typically not the focus of circumscribed interests, t(31) = 2.95, p = 0.024, d = 1.06
Summary
We are constantly surrounded by multiple stimuli competing for our attention. When interacting socially, otherPrevious research on gaze following in children with ASD has yielded mixed results, with some studies indicating impairment (e.g. Chawarska et al 2003; Leekam et al 2000) and others finding typical performance (e.g. Leekam et al 1998). In a recent eye tracking study (Falck-Ytter et al 2015), we showed that a group of low-functioning 3-yearsold with ASD was likely to follow a model’s gaze as typically developing (TD) and developmentally delayed control children. When we explored an aspect of the microstructure of the children’s gaze behavior, namely the length of their first fixations to the target objects, a group difference was discovered. For those trials where the children followed the model’s gaze to the attended object before looking at the unattended object, we compared the lengths of the first fixations at each object.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
