Gaze perception develops atypically in children with autism

Simon Webster, Douglas D. Potter

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The Mindblindness model is the main model of social cognitive development in autism. This model assumes that eye direction detection and eye contact detection develop typically in autism (Baron-Cohen, 1995). The model's assumption of maturational development implies that when these skills are abnormal, they must either be absent or developmentally delayed. In contrast, the atypical modularisation hypothesis predicts that these skills can develop deviantly—successfully but atypically—in children with autism. Two computer-based tasks were used to assess eye direction detection and eye contact detection in children with autism and in typically developing children. These skills were developmentally deviant in children with autism. The findings support a model of social cognition in autism that accounts for developmental processes.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article number462389
    Number of pages9
    JournalChild Development Research
    Volume2011
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2011

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