Emotional face processing in neurotypicals with autistic traits: Implications for the broad autism phenotype

Spontaneous eye movements and trait empathy predict vicarious learning of fear

“…In contrast to trait empathy, and contrary to our predictions, no association was found between autistic traits and the CR. These results are partly inconsistent with the results from Miu et al (2012) that demonstrated a stronger CR in people with high levels of autistic traits. This inconsistency may be related to differences in both data analysis and the sample.…”

“…Somewhat unexpectedly, subclinical autistic traits have recently been linked to stronger vicarious fear learning. Miu et al (2012) compared fear learning in nonclinical groups with either high or low self-reported autistic traits using an observational fear learning paradigm adapted from . Interestingly, the participants with high autistic traits showed a stronger CR, which is surprising if the appraisal of the model's mental state is important for the ensuing learning, and the fact that autistic traits are associated with lower levels of trait empathy (Lawrence et al, 2004).…”

Optimizing the RMET to measure bias not performance differences

“…Under optimal conditions and given enough cognitive resources, performance of people with autism can be similar to that of NTs (See, for example, Harms et al 2010.) For example, in the RMET, additional cognitive effort spent, as seen in longer response times, yielded no performance difference (Miu et al, 2012 ). By offering the option of "I don't know" we already found a reduced group difference.…”

Attentional biases to threat and serotonin transporter gene promoter (5-HTLPR) polymorphisms: Evidence from a probe discrimination task with endogenous cues

“…We used a probe discrimination task that was previously described [34,35]. This task involved presenting 384 unique trials in a random order, in which the cues were fearful or neutral facial expressions [36], displayed in the center of the screen, subtending a vertical visual angle of 7°;…”

“…and the probe was the upper case letter "T" or "L", which subtended a 3° visual angle and were presented 5° from the midpoint of the screen on a 19-inch coloured monitor (for examples of trials see [34,35]). The sequence of events in a trial was: central fixation cross (675 ms); fearful/ neutral face with eyes looking straight ahead …”