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Atypical gaze following in autism : a comparison of three potential mechanisms

  • K. Gillespie-Lynch
  • , R. Elias
  • , P. Escudero
  • , T. Hutman
  • , S. P. Johnson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In order to evaluate the following potential mechanisms underlying atypical gaze following in autism, impaired reflexive gaze following, difficulty integrating gaze and affect, or reduced understanding of the referential significance of gaze, we administered three paradigms to young children with autism (N = 21) and chronological (N = 21) and nonverbal mental age (N = 21) matched controls. Children with autism exhibited impaired reflexive gaze following. The absence of evidence of integration of gaze and affect, regardless of diagnosis, indicates ineffective measurement of this construct. Reduced gaze following was apparent among children with autism during eye-tracking and in-person assessments. Word learning from gaze cues was better explained by developmental level than autism. Thus, gaze following may traverse an atypical, rather than just delayed, trajectory in autism.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2779-2792
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Volume43
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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