Early Disruption of Neurological Pathways for Social Development in Autism

These results indicate that a visual-perceptual skill for social interaction does not function effectively in toddlers with autism.

Infants attend to an expressive human face during the first days of life. This early developmental milestone is the foundation for the capacity to attribute intentions to others. Researchers asked the question: Do very young children with autism demonstrate a deficit in their orientation to human movements?

Actors playing children’s games (e.g., peek-a-boo or patty-cake) wore special sensor-equipped suits and were audiovisually recorded with motion capture technology. The resulting animations (consisting of points of light) were shown on split computer screens to children: upright and forward-playing on one side and upside-down and backward on the other (such inverted presentations disrupt young children’s perception of biological motion). T…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics