Neurophysiological Correlates of Holistic Face Processing in Adolescents with and Without Autism Spectrum Disorder

Details

• Personal Author:
  McPartland J ; Naumann S ; Santhosh M ; Senftleben U ; Webb SJ
• Description:
  Background: Face processing has been found to be impaired in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). One hypothesis is that individuals with ASD engage in piecemeal compared to holistic face processing strategies. To investigate the role of possible impairments in holistic face processing in individuals with autism, the current study investigated behavioral and electroencephalography (EEG) correlates of face processing (P1/N170 and gamma-band activity) in adolescents with ASD and sex-, age-, and IQ-matched neurotypical controls. Methods: Participants were presented with upright and inverted Mooney stimuli; black and white low information faces that are only perceived as faces when processed holistically. Participants indicated behaviorally the detection of a face. EEG was collected time-locked to the presentation of the stimuli. Results: Adolescents with ASD perceived Mooney stimuli as faces suggesting ability to use holistic processing but displayed a lower face detection rate and slower response times. ERP components suggest slowed temporal processing of Mooney stimuli in the ASD compared to control group for P1 latency but no differences between groups for P1 amplitude and at the N170. Increases in gamma-band activity was similar during the perception of the Mooney images by group, but the ASD group showed prolonged temporal elevation in activity. Conclusion: Overall, our results suggest that adolescents with ASD were able to utilize holistic processing to perceive a face within the Mooney stimuli. Delays in early processing, marked by the P1, and elongated elevation in gamma activity indicate that the neural systems supporting holistic processing are slightly altered suggesting a less automatic and less efficient facial processing system. Trial registration: Non-applicable. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Age Factors Behavior Mental Disorders Occupational Health Safety Sex Characteristics
• Keywords:
  Adolescents Age Factors ASDs Author Keywords: ASD Autism Autism Spectrum Disorders Behavioral Disorders Electroencephalography Gamma-band Activity Holistic Face Processing Humans N170 Neurophysiological Effects P1 Sex Factors Stimulants

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• ISSN:
  1866-1947
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; Connecticut ; District of Columbia ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  27
• Volume:
  10
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053204
• Citation:
  J Neurodev Disord 2018 Dec; 10(1):27
• Contact Point Address:
  Sandra Naumann, Berlin School of Mind and Brain, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
• Email:
  sandra.naumann@hu-berlin.de
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  University of California, Berkeley
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20120701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• End Date:
  20160630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0effd8507a94df47a742471aceca2076c7762b563a53002961e839650a6a6ad633d15185947afb9a340116c076163d06459a078da1d12fe3855c5fcc5a88545d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216011/cdc_216011_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.48 MB ]