Developmental changes in attention to social information from childhood to adolescence in autism spectrum disorders: a comparative study

Abstract

Background Elucidating developmental changes in the symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is important to support individuals with ASD. However, no report has clarified the developmental changes in attention to social information for a broad age range. The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental changes in attention to social information from early childhood to adolescence in individuals with ASD and typically developed (TD) children. Methods We recruited children with ASD (n = 83) and TD participants (n = 307) between 2 and 18 years of age. Using the all-in-one-eye-tracking system, Gazefinder, we measured the percentage fixation time allocated to areas of interest (AoIs) depicted in movies (the eyes and mouth in movies of a human face with/without mouth motion, upright and inverted biological motion in movies showing these stimuli simultaneously, people and geometry in preference paradigm movies showing these stimuli simultaneously, and objects with/without finger-pointing in a movie showing a woman pointing toward an object). We conducted a three-way analysis of variance, 2 (diagnosis: ASD and TD) by 2 (sex: male and female) by 3 (age group: 0–5, 6–11, and 12–18 years) and locally weighted the scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) regression curve on each AoI. Results In the face stimuli, the percentage fixation time to the eye region for the TD group increased with age, whereas the one for the ASD group did not. In the ASD group, the LOESS curves of the gaze ratios at the eye region increased up to approximately 10 years of age and thereafter tended to decrease. For the percentage fixation time to the people region in the preference paradigm, the ASD group gazed more briefly at people than did the TD group. Limitations It is possible that due to the cross-sectional design, the degree of severity and of social interest might have differed according to the subjects’ age. Conclusions There may be qualitative differences in abnormal eye contact in ASD between individuals in early childhood and those older than 10 years.

Prospective Observational Study of an Eye-measuring Device Aiming at Application to Periodic Health Checkups for Under 12 Months of age Infants; The Feasibility of Gazefinder

“…In previous research using Gaze nder to children between the ages of 1 year and 6 months to 2 years and 2 months, the M-CHAT and the xation data of human and geometry (Movie VII and VIII), showed a signi cant correlation [14]. However, it has been known that TD individuals visually xated on geometric images were enhanced with increasing age [8] and the studies using Gaze nder reported the same trend [13,15,19]. One report showed the xation to the human (relative to geometric patterns) gradually decreased in the TD individuals and stabilized after around 5 years of age [15].…”

“…However, it has been known that TD individuals visually xated on geometric images were enhanced with increasing age [8] and the studies using Gaze nder reported the same trend [13,15,19]. One report showed the xation to the human (relative to geometric patterns) gradually decreased in the TD individuals and stabilized after around 5 years of age [15]. This trend is considered that during very early development TD infants and toddlers are strongly drawn to the human face [27], while TD individuals may become able to alter their attention to non-social stimuli with increasing age.…”

“…Another study reported infants with ASD consistent gaze to the eyes region at 6 months, and greater amounts of xation to the mouth during live interaction, predicted higher levels of expressive language at outcome and greater rates of growth [12]. Moreover, the study using Gaze nder, showed the moving mouth attracted the attention of young children with or without ASD [15]. Thus, infants in this age group, with or without ASD, possibly show more preference to human eyes than mouth, and are easy to pay attention by the moving mouth.…”

“…The joint attention movie (IX) showed an actress who faces the front and some objects include geometric patterns, and an actress who turns to face one of the objects and points toward it one second later (8 s). Stimulus movies were displayed in a de nitive order [15].…”

Social Visual Perception Under the Eye of Bayesian Theories in Autism Spectrum Disorder Using Advanced Modeling of Spatial and Temporal Parameters

“…The interpretable measurements presented in combination with a promising theoretical background, could for example aid in a step by step visual training of social perception, thus objectifying treatment outcomes and contributing to the development of risk assessments (48,64). Given the flexibility of the social scene presentation paradigm and the practicality of eye tracking technique, such trainings could be developed specifically for children, customized for different developmental ages and levels of difficulties (65). This can eventually facilitate the realization of longitudinal studies and monitoring of long-time interventions (66,67).…”