Are the Autism and Positive Schizotypy Spectra Diametrically Opposed in Local Versus Global Processing?

Abstract

Crespi and Badcock (2008) proposed that autism and psychosis represent two extremes on a cognitive spectrum with normality at its center. Their specific claim that autistic and positive schizophrenia traits contrastingly affect preference for local versus global processing was investigated by examining Embedded Figures Test performance in two groups of students separated on autisticlike traits but matched on positive schizotypy traits, and two groups separated on positive schizotypy traits but matched on autistic-like traits (n = 20 per group). Consistent with their theory, higher levels of autistic-like traits were associated with faster identification of hidden figures, whereas higher levels of positive schizotypy traits were associated with slower identification.

Enhanced global integration of closed contours in individuals with high levels of autistic-like traits

“…Consistent with previous studies (Almeida et al, 2010a(Almeida et al, , 2010bKemner, van Ewijk, van Engeland, & Hooge, 2008;Russell-Smith, Maybery, & Bayliss, 2010), we observed enhanced performance by those with high relative to low autistic characteristics on the EFT. On the RF search task, the high AQ group were significantly faster overall and less affected by increasing SS than the low AQ group.…”

“…Similar findings have been observed in typically developing individuals with high levels of autistic-like traits (Almeida, Dickinson, Maybery, Badcock, & Badcock, 2010a, 2010bGrinter et al, 2009aGrinter et al, , 2009bRussell-Smith, Maybery, & Bayliss, 2010), as measured by the Autism-spectrum Quotient (AQ; Baron-Cohen et al, 2001). These findings are suggestive of similar mechanisms in the two groups and the existence of an underlying continuum; however the nature of these mechanisms is still unclear.…”

Functional Evaluation of Hidden Figures Object Analysis in Children with Autistic Disorder

“…Children with autism differ from typically developing children across many domains, including local versus global processing style (Crespi and Badcock 2008;Grinter et al 2009;Russell-Smith et al 2010). Here, we focus on object analysis in terms of hidden figures.…”

Symptoms of autism and schizophrenia spectrum disorders in clinically referred youth with oppositional defiant disorder

“…The extant literature and our reported findings indicate that the emotion dysregulation and interpersonal conflicts that define ODD, to include peer conflicts (Drabick & Gadow, 2012; Gadow & Drabick, submitted for publication), may share similarities with communication and social skills deficits of ASD and SSD; indeed, perhaps the most salient similarity is that social interactions are challenging and thus generate a range of intense emotional reactions. It is also possible that ASD and SSD represent divergent extremes of similar processes (Crespi & Badcock, 2008; Russell-Smith, Maybery, & Bayliss, 2010). Our expectation that source-specific symptom groups based on teachers' (Table 2) versus mothers' (Table 1) ratings would reveal more pronounced group differentiation (AIS, NS, Controls) was not supported (Prediction 4).…”