Lack of implicit visual perspective taking in adult males with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

BackgroundSome theorists have suggested that the ability of visual perspective-taking (VPT) constitutes a rudimentary process of social cognition, and as such, the ability of VPT in people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been the focus of intensive research. AimThe present study investigated whether adult males with ASD show signs of implicit VPT in first-level VPT tasks, in which participants were required to judge whether a target object can be seen from another’s perspective, even when they are not explicitly required to take another’s perspective. Methods and proceduresWe examined whether the information from another’s visual perspective interferes with visual processing from the participant’s own perspective (“altercentric interference”) using the reaction time as the main performance indicator in adult males with or without ASD. Eye movement patterns during VPT were analyzed for some participants. Outcomes and resultsThe results revealed signs of altercentric interference in neurotypical adults, but not in adult males with ASD. Conclusions and implicationsThe results indicate the possibility that people with ASD may rely on a different strategy than neurotypical adults in completing a first-level VPT task.