In a previous post (Looking at Faces) I reported on one of a growing number of studies that investigate why people with autism have social difficulties. This research shows that - unlike people without autism - individuals with autism spectrum disorders tend to avoid looking at pictures of faces. Obviously, if you are avoiding looking at people, you will be at a major disadvantage when trying to learn social skills. But why would they avoid faces?
Some have looked at arousal and have theorized that other people make those with autism anxious - therefore, resulting in avoiding others. But when researchers have looked at arousal, they often get mixed results. A new yet-to-be published study seems the help explain these puzzling results.
Natalia Kleinhans and her colleagues had people with and without autism look at pictures of faces (see sample) at two different times. They monitored their brain activity through an fMRI (which assesses brain function). What they found was that the first time they showed the picture of a face both groups had increased arousal in the amygdala (a part of the brain involved with fear and anger). A new, unfamiliar face may be mildly anxiety producing for anyone because of all the new features to consider. However, when they showed the picture a second time, the control group habituated - meaning, they did not have the same hyperarousal response. However, the people with autism did not habituate, and continued to show hyperarousal. Without getting use to faces, people with autism may experience stimulus overload each time they see a person. This study may help make sense of why people with autism avoid faces.
Reference
Kleinhans, N. M., Johnson, L. C., Richards, T., Mahurin, R., Greenson, J., Dawson, G., et al. (in press). Reduced neural habituation in the amygdala and social impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry.
Some have looked at arousal and have theorized that other people make those with autism anxious - therefore, resulting in avoiding others. But when researchers have looked at arousal, they often get mixed results. A new yet-to-be published study seems the help explain these puzzling results.
Natalia Kleinhans and her colleagues had people with and without autism look at pictures of faces (see sample) at two different times. They monitored their brain activity through an fMRI (which assesses brain function). What they found was that the first time they showed the picture of a face both groups had increased arousal in the amygdala (a part of the brain involved with fear and anger). A new, unfamiliar face may be mildly anxiety producing for anyone because of all the new features to consider. However, when they showed the picture a second time, the control group habituated - meaning, they did not have the same hyperarousal response. However, the people with autism did not habituate, and continued to show hyperarousal. Without getting use to faces, people with autism may experience stimulus overload each time they see a person. This study may help make sense of why people with autism avoid faces.
Reference
Kleinhans, N. M., Johnson, L. C., Richards, T., Mahurin, R., Greenson, J., Dawson, G., et al. (in press). Reduced neural habituation in the amygdala and social impairments in Autism Spectrum Disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry.
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