Thesis

Visual orienting to eye gaze in individuals with high and low levels of autistic traits

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Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2012
Thesis identifier
  • T13185
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have a tendency to avoid eye contact and show a lack of voluntary and spontaneous gaze following behaviour. Research using gaze cueing paradigms has suggested that although individuals with autism can and do reflexively orient to gaze cues, this is done using atypical strategies. Consistent with the notion that autism is a spectrum disorder on a broad continuum which extends to the typically developing population, this study aimed to investigate whether similar atypical strategies for gaze cueing tasks found in autism would be apparent in typical individuals with high levels of autistic traits. To explore this possibility, typically developing individuals with high and low levels of autistic traits were compared on their performance of pro-saccade and anti-saccade cueing tasks with gaze and arrow distracters. Eye movements to these tasks were recorded. Results indicated no differences in orienting between the high and low group. This suggests that the atypical cueing effects found in those with autism do not extend to the typical population as a function of autistic trait. Furthermore, error rates on the anti-saccade task suggest a speed accuracy trade off specific to gaze cues. This supports the notion that gaze modulates attention in a uniquely social way.
Resource Type
Note
  • Strathclyde theses - ask staff. Thesis no. : T13185
DOI
Date Created
  • 2012
Former identifier
  • 947581

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