Orientation-specific surround suppression in the primary visual cortex varies as a function of autistic tendency

摘要: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit superior performance on tasks that rely local details in an image, and they deficits require integration of elements into a unified whole. These perceptual abnormalities have been proposed to underlie many the characteristic features ASD, but underlying neural mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we investigated degree which orientation-specific surround suppression, well-known form contextual modulation visual cortex, is associated autistic tendency neurotypical (NT) individuals. Surround suppression refers phenomenon response stimulus receptive field neuron suppressed when it surrounded by stimuli just outside field. The greatest center surrounding share such as orientation. underlies number fundamental processes known be atypical individuals including grouping pop-out. However, whether primary cortex (V1) related traits has not directly tested before. We used fMRI measure Gabor was Gabors having same or orthogonal orientation, calculated index (SI) for each participant denoted magnitude vs. conditions. SI positively correlated individual, measured Autism Quotient (AQ) scale, questionnaire designed assess general population. Age also our sample, did account correlation between tendency. results suggest reduction V1 increasing