title: Spatial contrast sensitivity in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: Adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically developing (TD) controls underwent a rigorous psychophysical assessment that measured contrast sensitivity to seven spatial frequencies (0.5-20 cycles/degree). A contrast sensitivity function (CSF) was then fitted for each participant, from which four measures were obtained: visual acuity, peak spatial frequency, peak contrast sensitivity, and contrast sensitivity at a low spatial frequency. There were no group differences on any of the four CSF measures, indicating no differential spatial frequency processing in ASD. Although it has been suggested that detail-oriented visual perception in individuals with ASD may be a result of differential sensitivities to low versus high spatial frequencies, the current study finds no evidence to support this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
authors.forename: Hwan Cui
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Milne
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dobkins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D014888:Wechsler Scales