Researchers believe that the process in our brain that allows us to see visual distinctions happen differently in the brains of children with an autism spectrum disorder. A study published in the Journal of Neuroscience reported that severely attenuated visual feedback processing in children on the autism spectrum.
The participants included 60 children ages seven to 17 both with and without an autism spectrum disorder. The researchers used visual illusions (such as groups of Pac-Man-shaped images that create the illusion of a shape in the empty space), and electroencephalography (EEG) to record neuron responses in the brain. They determined that children with autism did not automatically process the illusory shapes as well as children without autism. The researchers describe it as an atypical activity associated with the feedback processing pathways.
Visual perception is critical in helping us interact with our environments. Dr. Emily Knight, assistant professor of Neuroscience and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester Medical Center, explains how typical sensory processing works: “When we view an object or picture, our brains use processes that consider our experience and contextual information to help anticipate sensory inputs, address ambiguity, and fill in the missing information.” Children with atypical visual sensory behavior may not be able to predict missing visual information in ways that their peers might.
Knight’s previous research suggested that children with autism may not be able to see or process body language like their peers when distracted by their environment or nearby activity or objects. The brains of children with autism did not appear to notice human movement when told to focus on the color.
More research on visual perception and autism is needed to develop more effective support strategies and tools to support children and adults on the autism spectrum.
Sources: Eureka News Alert, Journal of Neuroscience
