Visual Attention to Social and Non-Social Objects in the Autism Spectrum

摘要: Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterised by impairments in social interaction and communication, restricted interests or repetitive behaviours. traits theorised to lie on a continuum throughout the general population, with individuals clinical diagnosis at one extreme. Those high levels of autism population have been found display similar characteristics those ASD, but lesser extent. Differences visual attention non-social information thought contribute characteristic behaviours autism. Whilst may be diminished ASD also associated an increase towards objects that circumscribed interest. The present thesis investigated participants from low traits, investigate whether differences relate spectrum. Dot probe, peripheral cueing, eye tracking tasks were used explore different elements attention, including orienting disengaging. Overall, captured more than objects, revealing salience information. Participants showed reduced dot probe tasks, not cueing experiment. Across all experiments, there was no evidence suggest spectrum related attentional biases interests. However, other stimuli appeared capture greater extent across higher when competing for suggesting involve interference field. This indicate is guided properties their semantic meaning