Direct Support for Configural Face Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Use of a Gaze-Contingent Stimulus Presentation

• ¹ University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, Belgium
• ² UPC - KU Leuven, Child Psychiatry (Department of Neurosciences), Belgium
• ³ University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), Belgium
• ⁴ University of Louvain La Neuve (UCL), Institute of research in Psychology (IPSY); Institute of Neuroscience (IoNS), Belgium
• ⁵ University Hospital Maastricht, Clinical Genetics, Belgium
• ⁶ University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, Belgium
• ⁷ Massachusetts General Hospital, Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, United States

Abnormal face processing styles are widely documented in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). However, evidence is rather mixed and controversial. It is sometimes argued that individuals use a more locally oriented face processing strategy, however evidence is rather indirect. Besides, some researchers found that children with ASD allocate attention to atypical regions in the face (e.g., less fixations at eyes; more fixations at mouth). Here also, evidence is inconsistent.
Using gaze-contingent stimulus presentation, we wanted to provide more direct support for face processing strategies, and face fixation patterns in children with ASD.
Two groups of 10-to-14-year old boys without intellectual disabilities (IQ >= 70) were tested: a group of children with ASD, and an age-and-IQ-matched group of typically developing children. A same-different task was used with two static neutral faces. Whereas the target face was always presented in full view, the amount of information available in the match face was manipulated, hereby manipulating part-based (local) and holistic viewing strategy. In the window view, a gaze-contingent foveal window restricted the participants’ view to the information of the fixated feature, allowing part-based processing of the face, but hampering configural face processing. In the mask view, a gaze-contingent foveal mask covered the high-resolution information at the fixated location, hampering detailed processing of the fixated features, while still allowing configural face processing.
Behavioral data did not show a qualitative difference in face processing style in the ASD group. Besides, preliminary eye-movement data did not provide evidence for an atypical viewing pattern in the ASD group. Like the typically developing children, the children with ASD tend to fixate the eyes region.