Looking at Faces

The characteristic social deficits of people with autism are studied in a number of ways. A recent study used an innovative technology as well as a unique comparison. The researchers compared eye gaze at pictures among people with autism, those with Williams Syndrome (which is characterized by over socialness) and those without a diagnosis. Look at the photo on the right. There is a human face embedded in the lower right corner of each photo. The colored spots in the photo represent the amount of time each group look at the parts of the photo. Can you match photos "a" (top), "b" (middle), and "c" (bottom) with the correct group?

They found that people with Williams Syndrome looked primarily at faces (photo "b" - middle), undiagnosed persons looked primarily at faces but scanned other aspects as well (photo "c" - bottom), and those with autism primarily looked at aspects of the photo other than the face (photo a - top). This interesting study helps us look at the world through the eyes of people with autism and gives us a glimpse into their world.

Reference

Riby, D., & Hancock, P. (2009). Do faces capture the attention of individuals with Williams Syndrome or autism? Evidence from tracking eye movements. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(3), 421-431.