Cited by 536Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchVisual perception and processing mechanismsFace Recognition and Perception

Enhanced and diminished visuo-spatial information processing in autism depends on stimulus complexity

Bertone, Armando, Mottron, Laurent, Jelenic, Patricia, Faubert, Jocelyn·2005·Brain

Abstract

Visuo-perceptual processing in autism is characterized by intact or enhanced performance on static spatial tasks and inferior performance on dynamic tasks, suggesting a deficit of dorsal visual stream processing in autism. However, previous findings by Bertone et al. indicate that neuro-integrative mechanisms used to detect complex motion, rather than motion perception per se, may be impaired in autism. We present here the first demonstration of concurrent enhanced and decreased performance in autism on the same visuo-spatial static task, wherein the only factor dichotomizing performance was the neural complexity required to discriminate grating orientation. The ability of persons with autism was found to be superior for identifying the orientation of simple, luminance-defined (or first-order) gratings but inferior for complex, texture-defined (or second-order) gratings. Using a flicker contrast sensitivity task, we demonstrated that this finding is probably not due to abnormal information processing at a sub-cortical level (magnocellular and parvocellular functioning). Together, these findings are interpreted as a clear indication of altered low-level perceptual information processing in autism, and confirm that the deficits and assets observed in autistic visual perception are contingent on the complexity of the neural network required to process a given type of visual stimulus. We suggest that atypical neural connectivity, resulting in enhanced lateral inhibition, may account for both enhanced and decreased low-level information processing in autism.

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Crossref · 10.1093/brain/awh561

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  • In the visual system, individuals with ASD are better at discriminating first-order orientations but have difficulties with second-order orientations.

    “individuals with ASD have been shown to be better in discriminating between visual stimulus orientations that are defined on the basis of changes in luminance (”first-order” features, characterized at each point of an image independently), but to show difficulties in perceiving differences when these orientations are defined on the basis of contrast or textural cues (”second-order” features, which”
  • Individuals with ASD have normal or enhanced performance in tasks relying on stimulus detail analysis but may have difficulties integrating detail into a holistic image.

    “individuals with ASD have either normal or enhanced performance in tasks that rely on the analysis of stimulus detail, but may have difficulties when this detail needs to be integrated in order to form a holistic image”
  • In the Embedded Figures Test, children with ASD are often better at counting simple shapes within a larger image but show decreased performance identifying the larger holistic image.

    “Children with ASD are often significantly better at counting the number of simple shapes within the larger image, but often show decreased performance in identifying the larger holistic image.”
  • In visual motion detection, ASD difficulties are seen only for moving stimuli defined by second-order cues.

    “similar differences were found for visual motion detection, with difficulties only seen for moving stimuli defined on the basis of second-order cues”
  • In both studies where the stimulus was second-order, the modulation thresholds of the ASD group were significantly higher than those of controls.

    “In both studies where the stimulus was ''second-order”

    From Vision in autism spectrum disorders (2009) · cites this paper as Bertone et al., 2005

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Authors
Bertone, A., Mottron, L., Jelenic, P., & Faubert, J.
Affiliations
Université de Montréal (CA)
Corresponding author
Bertone, Armando
Venue
Brain
Published
2005-06-15
Volume
128
Issue
10
Pages
2430-2441
ISSN
  • 0006-8950 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2156
OpenAlex
W2171446821
Cited by
536
References
127
Citations by year
2026: 10 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 33 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 34 · 2013: 41 · 2012: 26
FWCI
11.88
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Brain (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Canadian Institutes of Health Research
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Visual perception and processing mechanisms
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Face Recognition and Perception
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, visuospatial processing, stimulus complexity, dorsal stream, lateral inhibition, neuronal connectivity, visual perception
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Autistic Disorder, Child, Discrimination, Psychological, Flicker Fusion, Humans, Nerve Net, Neural Pathways, Orientation, Photic Stimulation, Psychophysics, Retina, Thalamus, Visual Perception, Contrast Sensitivity

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