Predictability modulates neural response to eye contact in ASD.
Adam J Naples, Jennifer H Foss-Feig, Julie M Wolf and 2 others
PMID 36309762WHAT IT FOUND
In predictable settings, adults with autism showed delayed brain responses to eye contact.
In unpredictable settings, they showed stronger early responses linked to anxiety and sensory sensitivity. Context changes how the brain processes gaze, which may explain why eye contact feels harder in real life than in therapy.
Key findings
01When eye contact was predictable, adults with autism showed delayed neural responses to faces compared to controls.
02When eye contact was unpredictable, adults with autism showed stronger early neural responses to eye contact relative to mouth movement.
03In unpredictable contexts, stronger early brain responses to eye contact correlated with higher anxiety and visual sensory sensitivity.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used extreme conditions (completely predictable or completely unpredictable) that do not match real-life social interactions. Participants were adults with IQs above 70, so results may not apply to children or those with intellectual disabilities. The sample included only four autistic women, limiting conclusions about gender differences. Statistical tests were not fully corrected for multiple comparisons, meaning some correlations may be chance findings. The two experiments used different visual stimuli (eyes vs. mouth movement), which may have influenced the results.
Declared interests
The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health. No other conflicts of interest are reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that eye contact is universally more difficult for people with autism. The study shows that neural responses vary by context: delays occurred in predictable settings, while heightened sensitivity occurred in unpredictable ones. This means a client's ability to maintain eye contact in a structured session may not predict their experience in spontaneous social situations.