Perceptual Grouping in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Visual information is organised according to visual grouping principles. In visual grouping tasks, individuals with ASD have shown equivocal performance. In this study, we explored the neural correlates of Gestalt grouping in individuals with and without ASD. The neuromagnetic activity of individuals with (15) and without (18) ASD was compared during a visual grouping task testing grouping by proximity versus similarity. Individuals without ASD showed stronger evoked responses with earlier peaks in response to both grouping types, indicating an earlier neuronal differentiation between grouping principles in individuals without ASD. In contrast, individuals with ASD showed particularly prolonged processing of grouping by similarity, suggesting a high demand for neural resources. The neuronal processing differences found could explain less efficient grouping performance observed behaviourally in ASD.

Origional publication: Perceptual Grouping in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Magnetoencephalography Study

Last Modified: 02.01.2024