Does stereopsis account for the link between motor and social skills in adults?

The sample was opportunistic and not a clinical or random population sample. It was drawn from Reddit, social media, email, and University of Nottingham students, and it was biased toward university students. Participants were not diagnosed with developmental disorders. Only 6 disclosed an autism spectrum disorder and 12 disclosed amblyopia, strabismus, or general poor vision, so the findings do not show what happens in diagnosed adults. Stereopsis was measured by self-report screening questions and an autostereogram task, not by clinic or laboratory stereoacuity testing. The Stereopsis Screening Inventory has sensitivity of 59.7%, so some depth perception problems may be missed. The study used one-time questionnaire scores, so it cannot show that poor depth perception causes motor or social problems, or that treating depth perception changes them. Many participants met questionnaire cut-offs for impairment, possibly because the study was advertised as a survey on visual ability, coordination, and autistic traits, which may have attracted people concerned about these areas. The analysis created broad questionnaire-derived factors, such as social skill, stereopsis, fine motor skill, and coordination, and these may not match clinical assessments used in practice.

The supplied text does not include a conflicts of interest or funding declaration. The publication type notes research support from non-U.S. government sources.

Do not read this as evidence that poor depth perception causes motor or social problems, or that treating stereopsis will improve them. The study used self-reported questionnaires in a nonclinical, self-selected adult sample and tested associations, not treatment.