Visual Search Performance Does Not Relate to Autistic Traits in the General Population.

Visual Search Performance Does Not Relate to Autistic Traits in the General Population.
J Autism Dev Disord. 2019 Feb 16;:
Authors: López Pérez D, Kennedy DP, Tomalski P, Bölte S, D'Onofrio B, Falck-Ytter T
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is commonly conceived as the extreme end of a continuum. Research suggests that autistic individuals outperform typically developing controls in visual search. Thus, enhanced visual search may represent an adaptive trait associated with ASD. Here, using a large general population sample (N = 608, aged 9-14 years), we tested if higher levels of autistic traits are associated with enhanced visual search. Visual search was evaluated using both manual responses and eye movements, and autistic traits were measured using the Social Responsiveness Scale. Contrary to our hypothesis, no significant relation between autistic traits and visual search were observed. The theoretical implications of these results are discussed.
PMID: 30778820 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Source: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders - February 16, 2019 Category: Psychiatry Authors: López Pérez D, Kennedy DP, Tomalski P, Bölte S, D'Onofrio B, Falck-Ytter T Tags: J Autism Dev Disord Source Type: research