Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder
Abstract Background A number of differences in joint attention behaviour between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals have previously been documented. Method We use eye-tracking technology to assess response to joint attention (RJA) behaviours in 77...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04585-3 |
| _version_ | 1797853644563939328 |
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| author | Ryan Anthony de Belen Hannah Pincham Antoinette Hodge Natalie Silove Arcot Sowmya Tomasz Bednarz Valsamma Eapen |
| author_facet | Ryan Anthony de Belen Hannah Pincham Antoinette Hodge Natalie Silove Arcot Sowmya Tomasz Bednarz Valsamma Eapen |
| author_sort | Ryan Anthony de Belen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background A number of differences in joint attention behaviour between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals have previously been documented. Method We use eye-tracking technology to assess response to joint attention (RJA) behaviours in 77 children aged 31 to 73 months. We conducted a repeated-measures analysis of variance to identify differences between groups. In addition, we analysed correlations between eye-tracking and clinical measures using Spearman’s correlation. Results The children diagnosed with ASD were less likely to follow gaze compared to TD children. Children with ASD were less accurate at gaze following when only eye gaze information was available, compared to when eye gaze with head movement was observed. Higher accuracy gaze-following profiles were associated with better early cognition and more adaptive behaviours in children with ASD. Less accurate gaze-following profiles were associated with more severe ASD symptomatology. Conclusion There are differences in RJA behaviours between ASD and TD preschool children. Several eye-tracking measures of RJA behaviours in preschool children were found to be associated with clinical measures for ASD diagnosis. This study also highlights the construct validity of using eye-tracking measures as potential biomarkers in the assessment and diagnosis of ASD in preschool children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:54:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43dfe93b5a58472697e78cae9f1139fc |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T19:54:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-43dfe93b5a58472697e78cae9f1139fc2023-04-03T05:35:34ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2023-03-0123111710.1186/s12888-023-04585-3Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorderRyan Anthony de Belen0Hannah Pincham1Antoinette Hodge2Natalie Silove3Arcot Sowmya4Tomasz Bednarz5Valsamma Eapen6School of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South WalesSchool of Psychiatry, University of New South WalesChildren’s Hospital WestmeadChildren’s Hospital WestmeadSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, University of New South WalesSchool of Art & Design, University of New South WalesSchool of Psychiatry, University of New South WalesAbstract Background A number of differences in joint attention behaviour between children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and typically developing (TD) individuals have previously been documented. Method We use eye-tracking technology to assess response to joint attention (RJA) behaviours in 77 children aged 31 to 73 months. We conducted a repeated-measures analysis of variance to identify differences between groups. In addition, we analysed correlations between eye-tracking and clinical measures using Spearman’s correlation. Results The children diagnosed with ASD were less likely to follow gaze compared to TD children. Children with ASD were less accurate at gaze following when only eye gaze information was available, compared to when eye gaze with head movement was observed. Higher accuracy gaze-following profiles were associated with better early cognition and more adaptive behaviours in children with ASD. Less accurate gaze-following profiles were associated with more severe ASD symptomatology. Conclusion There are differences in RJA behaviours between ASD and TD preschool children. Several eye-tracking measures of RJA behaviours in preschool children were found to be associated with clinical measures for ASD diagnosis. This study also highlights the construct validity of using eye-tracking measures as potential biomarkers in the assessment and diagnosis of ASD in preschool children.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04585-3Eye-tracking technologyResponse to joint attention |
| spellingShingle | Ryan Anthony de Belen Hannah Pincham Antoinette Hodge Natalie Silove Arcot Sowmya Tomasz Bednarz Valsamma Eapen Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder BMC Psychiatry Eye-tracking technology Response to joint attention |
| title | Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_full | Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_fullStr | Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_short | Eye-tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder |
| title_sort | eye tracking correlates of response to joint attention in preschool children with autism spectrum disorder |
| topic | Eye-tracking technology Response to joint attention |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-023-04585-3 |
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