Is superior local processing in the visuospatial domain a function of drawing talent rather than autism spectrum disorder?

Abstract

This study challenges the prevailing assumption that superior local processing is specific to autism spectrum diagnosis and suggests instead that such processing skill is a function of realistic drawing talent. Fifteen children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and 15 without ASD made an observational drawing scored for level of drawing realism and completed 2 tasks that allowed for the assessment of a local processing bias: the Block Design Task in unsegmented and segmented form at three levels of perceptual cohesiveness (minimal, intermediate, and maximal), and the Group Embedded Figures Test. Drawing realism score, not ASD diagnosis, predicted performance on the unsegmented version of the Block Design Task and on the most difficult items—the unsegmented maximally cohesive items. Accuracy on the Group Embedded Figures Test was also more strongly associated with level of drawing realism than ASD diagnosis. Thus, the superior local processing seen in ASD may be due to the drawing talent so often present in those with ASD.