Visual scene discrimination: A perceptual advantage in autistic adults

Abstract

Discriminating between similar scenes proves to be a remarkably demanding task due to the limited capacity of our visual cognitive processes. Here we examine how visual scene discrimination is modulated by perceptual differences arising from neurodiversity. A large sample of autistic (n=140) and typical (n=147) participants completed two visual scene discrimination experiments online. Each experiment consisted of “match” (identical scenes) and “mismatch” (subtle differences between scenes) conditions. In both experiments, we found strong evidence for an interaction between group and task condition. Specifically, when compared to typical controls, autistic individuals were on average more accurate at identifying subtle differences between scenes. Taken together, our findings suggest differential and superior processing of contextual expectations in autism. This is consistent with both, classic cognitive theories- such as weak central coherence, enhanced perceptual function, and hyper-systemising- and more recent Bayesian explanations of autistic perception.

Using the Griffiths Mental Development Scales to Evaluate a Developmental Profile of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Symptomatologic Severity

“…ASD could demonstrate better performance, compared to typical peers, in the processing of visual material [46], and this argument has been long discussed [47,48]. Better performances in visual paradigms have been attributed to a detail-oriented processing style or an "enhanced perceptual function" on low-level visual tasks [49]. Typical autistic characteristics such as systemizing and attention-to-detail have been associated with better visuospatial abilities during figure dissembling and mental rotation tasks [50,51].…”