Broad autism phenotype in typically developing children predicts performance on an eye-tracking measure of joint attention

J Autism Dev Disord. 2013 Mar;43(3):707-18. doi: 10.1007/s10803-012-1616-7.

Abstract

We examined visual attention allocation during a set of social videos that are intended to elicit the coordination of attention with another person, compared to a control condition. Deficits in joint attention are a characteristic of young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Participants included a diverse sample of 50 typically developing school-aged children between 3 and 9 years of age (M = 6:3, SD = 1:8). Results demonstrated that gaze allocation differed significantly between the experimental and control condition. Further, individual differences in gaze allocation were significantly predicted by a parent-report measure evaluating features of the broad autism phenotype. This study contributes to a research program that aims to develop and validate an endophenotype measure of ASD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Attention / physiology*
  • Autistic Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Autistic Disorder / physiopathology
  • Child
  • Child Development
  • Child, Preschool
  • Endophenotypes
  • Eye Movement Measurements
  • Eye Movements / physiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male