Slow segmentation of faces in Autism Spectrum Disorder

C. van den Boomen*, J. J. Fahrenfort, T. M. Snijders, C. Kemner

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Atypical visual segmentation, affecting object perception, might contribute to face processing problems in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study investigated impairments in visual segmentation of faces in ASD. Thirty participants (ASD: 16; Control: 14) viewed texture-defined faces, houses, and homogeneous images, while electroencephalographic and behavioral responses were recorded. The ASD group showed slower face-segmentation related brain activity and longer segmentation reaction times than the control group, but no difference in house-segmentation related activity or behavioral performance. Furthermore, individual differences in face-segmentation but not house-segmentation correlated with score on the Autism Quotient. Segmentation is thus selectively impaired for faces in ASD, and relates to the degree of ASD traits. Face segmentation relates to recurrent connectivity from the fusiform face area (FFA) to the visual cortex. These findings thus suggest that atypical connectivity from the FFA might contribute to delayed face processing in ASD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1-8
Number of pages8
JournalNeuropsychologia
Volume127
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2019

Funding

The authors would like to thank the participants, and the reviewers for their valuable contribution. We also thank Esther Eijlers for help with data collection and Gert Camfferman for technical support. This work was supported by a Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research ( NWO ) VICI grant ( 45307004 ) and the Consortium on Individual Development (CID). CID is funded through the Gravitation program of the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science and the NWO (Grant no. 024.001.003 ). Appendix A

FundersFunder number
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science024.001.003
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek45307004

    Keywords

    • ASD
    • EEG
    • Face
    • Segregation

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