Gaze and visual search strategies of children with Asperger syndrome/high functioning autism viewing a magic trick

Joosten, A. and Girdler, S. and Albrecht, M. and Horlin, C. and Falkmer, M. and Leung, D. and Ordqvist, A. et al. 2014. Gaze and visual search strategies of children with Asperger syndrome/high functioning autism viewing a magic trick. Developmental Neurorehabilitation. [In Press].

Source Title

Developmental Neurorehabilitation

Abstract

Objective: To examine visual search patterns and strategies used by children with and without Asperger syndrome/high functioning autism (AS/HFA) while watching a magic trick. Limited responsivity to gaze cues is hypothesised to contribute to social deficits in children with AS/HFA. Methods: Twenty-one children with AS/HFA and 31 matched peers viewed a video of a gaze-cued magic trick twice. Between the viewings, they were informed about how the trick was performed. Participants’ eye movements were recorded using a head-mounted eye-tracker. Results: Children with AS/HFA looked less frequently and had shorter fixation on the magician’s direct and averted gazes during both viewings and more frequently at not gaze-cued objects and on areas outside the magician’s face. After being informed of how the trick was conducted, both groups made fewer fixations on gaze-cued objects and direct gaze. Conclusions: Information may enhance effective visual strategies in children with and without AS/HFA.