Eye Contact Modulates Cognitive Processing Differently in Children With Autism. Issue 1 (31st July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Falck‐Ytter, Terje; Carlström, Christoffer; Johansson, Martin
• Is Part Of: Child development. Volume 86:Issue 1(2015:Jan./Feb.)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 47
• Publication Date: 2014-07-31
• Subjects: Child development -- Periodicals; Child psychology -- Periodicals; Child Development -- Periodicals; Child Development; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Pedicatrics; 305.231
• DOI: 10.1111/cdev.12273
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0009-3920

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="cdev12273-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>In humans, effortful cognitive processing frequently takes place during social interaction, with eye contact being an important component. This study shows that the effect of eye contact on memory for nonsocial information is different in children with typical development than in children with autism, a disorder of social communication. Direct gaze facilitated memory performance in children with typical development (<italic>n</italic> = 25, 6 years old), but no such facilitation was seen in the clinical group (<italic>n</italic> = 10, 6 years old). Eye tracking conducted during the cognitive test revealed strikingly similar patterns of eye movements, indicating that the results cannot be explained by differences in overt attention. Collectively, these findings have theoretical significance and practical implications for testing practices in children.</p> </abstract>