[Does the Fragmented Images Test measure locally oriented visual processing in autism spectrum disorders?].
OBJECTIVE
The cognitive phenotype of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is characterized among other things by local processing (weak central coherence). It was examined whether a test that measures identification of fragmented pictures (FBT) is able to seize this preference for local processing.


METHODS
The FBT performance of 15 patients with ASD, 16 with depression, 16 with schizophrenia and of 16 control subjects was compared. In addition, two tests well known to be sensitive to local processing were assessed, namely the Embedded Figures Test (EFT) and the Block Design Test (BDT).


RESULTS
ASD patients demonstrated a preference for local processing. Difficulties in global processing, or more specifically in gestalt perception (FBT), were accompanied by good performance on the EFT and BDT as expected. Controlling for age and nonverbal intelligence (ANCOVA) reduced differences to trends. However, the calculation of difference scores (i.e., subtraction of FBT from EFT performance) resulted in significant differences between ASD and control groups even after controlling for of age and intelligence.


CONCLUSIONS
The FBT is a suitable exploratory test of local visual processing in ASD. In particular, a difference criterion can be generated (FBT vs. EFT) that discriminates between ASD and clinical as well as healthy control groups.
Scheurich
Armin
A
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universitätsmedizin, Universität Mainz, Mainz. scheurich@psychiatrie.klinik.uni-mainz.de
Fellgiebel
Andreas
A
Müller
Mattias J
MJ
Poustka
Fritz
F
Bölte
Sven
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005260:Female; D005364:Field Dependence-Independence; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D010466:Perceptual Closure; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012016:Reference Values; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D055815:Young Adult