A new step towards understanding Embedded Figures Test performance in the autism spectrum: The radial frequency search task

Are the Autism and Positive Schizotypy Spectra Diametrically Opposed in Local Versus Global Processing?

“…It is argued that a local processing style is an advantage for successful completion of the EFT, as the test requires one to resist experiencing an integrated visual stimulus or gestalt in favor of seeing a composition of single elements (Bolte et al 2007). While there is conjecture over whether skilled performance on this test results from superior local or reduced global processing (Almeida et al 2010;Bolte et al 2007;Grinter et al 2009a, b), it is reasonable to assume that a preference or advantage for local processing over global processing would facilitate test performance and vice versa. Accordingly, from Crespi and Badcock's (2008) theory, one would expect that relative to individuals with low levels of these traits, individuals with high levels of autistic-like traits should perform better on the EFT, while individuals with high levels of positive schizotypy traits should perform worse.…”

Why We Should Study the Broader Autism Phenotype in Typically Developing Populations

“…For example, infants who have a sibling with ASD and who are not later diagnosed with ASD themselves also show atypical patterns of visual attention, but they are not as extreme as the patterns of those who are later diagnosed with ASD (Elsabbagh et al, 2009). To better understand the developmental outcomes of all these children, longitudinal research will provide insight into how these patterns of early visual attention map on to later BAP profiles, particularly as visual perception is a skill that varies in adults as a function of the BAP (Almeida, Dickinson, Maybery, Badcock, & Badcock, 2010;Chouinard, Noulty, Sperandio, & Landry, 2013;Chouinard et al, 2016;Sutherland & Crewther, 2010;Walter, Dassonville, & Bochsler, 2009). …”

Brief Report: Perceptual Load and the Autism Spectrum in Typically Developed Individuals

“…For example, Grinter et al (2009a) showed that performance on the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) and the Block Design component of the Weschler Intelligence Scale is positively related to AQ score (see also Almeida et al 2010). Grinter and colleagues also showed high performance in the EFT along with weak global form and motion detection (Grinter et al 2009b).…”