title: Enhanced access to early visual processing of perceptual simultaneity in autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: We compared judgements of the simultaneity or asynchrony of visual stimuli in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and typically-developing controls using Magnetoencephalography (MEG). Two vertical bars were presented simultaneously or non-simultaneously with two different stimulus onset delays. Participants with ASD distinguished significantly better between real simultaneity (0 ms delay between two stimuli) and apparent simultaneity (17 ms delay between two stimuli) than controls. In line with the increased sensitivity, event-related MEG activity showed increased differential responses for simultaneity versus apparent simultaneity. The strongest evoked potentials, observed over occipital cortices at about 130 ms, were correlated with performance differences in the ASD group only. Superior access to early visual brain processes in ASD might underlie increased resolution of visual events in perception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Developmental Neuropsychology, University of Groningen, Grote Kruisstraat 2/1, 9712 TS, Groningen, The Netherlands. c.m.falter@rug.nl
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Falter
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braeutigam
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carrington
authors.forename: Anthony J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Bailey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015225:Magnetoencephalography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009778:Occipital Lobe / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult