New research explains autistics’

exceptional visual abilitiesexceptional visual abilitiesMapping data shows enhanced activity in the

“perception” part of the brain

Fabienne Samson, Laurent Mottron, Isabelle SoulièresFabienne Samson, Laurent Mottron, Isabelle Soulières& Thomas Zeffiro

Enhanced visual functioning in autism: an ALE meta-analysis Human Brain Mapping

Superior visual ability in autism

• At least 1 out of 2 excel• At least 1 out of 2 excelin visuo-spatial tasks

• Some will develop exceptionalabilities in 3D drawing

Enhanced perception in autismEnhanced perception in autism

suggests that the brain of autistic

individuals processes visual

information differentlyinformation differently

What is going on in autistics’ What is going on in autistics’

brain that confer an advantage

in perception tasks?

What is perception ?

• Processes by which information is recorded by the brainthe brain

• Brain regions involved in visual perception and in the control of thoughts and actions

Quantitative meta-analysis

• Synthesis of independent research results

• Reveals brain areas showing consistent activation across studies for specific task or stimulus

• Can be used to compare patterns of activity between groups

Our study

• Meta-analysis of 26 neuroimaging studies (1995 – 2009) where visual information was (1995 – 2009) where visual information was presented to a total of 357 autistics and 370 non-autistics.

• Tasks include• Tasks include

• Face processing

• Object processing

• Reading

A superior use of visual brain

AUTISTICS > NON AUTISTICS NON AUTISTICS > AUTISTICSNON AUTISTICS > AUTISTICS

Plan and control thoughts and actions

Detection, identification, manipulation of visual information

Enhanced perception in autism

No matter what the task is, autistics willuse visual areas of the brain to a greateruse visual areas of the brain to a greater

extent than non autistics

Face processing ReadingObjects

A superior use of regions dedicated

to visual expertise

FACES OBJECTS READINGFACES OBJECTS READING

Fusiform gyrus

Atypical visual expertise in autism

• Brain areas associated with domain-specific expertise are more active and distributedexpertise are more active and distributed

• E.g.: Face processing regions are the most active! Face perception is atypical, but not impairedimpaired

A superior role of perception in

intelligence

• General functional reorganization of the brain in favor of pattern detection and brain in favor of pattern detection and manipulation system (e.g. mental rotation)

• Consistent with enhanced visuo-spatial abilities

• Autistics perform successfully, albeit in their own way, tasks involving frontal areas in typical individuals

Implications for

understanding autism

• Autism could be described as a perceptual superiority (unique) rather than social deficit (poorly specific)

Implications for

helping & educating autistics

• Building on autistics’ perceptual ability in • Building on autistics’ perceptual ability in teaching rather than imposing same information processing as in non-autistics

• E.g.: Exposition to visual information (written material)(written material)