title: Pupillometry reveals reduced unconscious emotional reactivity in autism.
abstract: Recent theoretical conceptualisations have suggested that emotion processing impairments in autism stem from disruption to the sub-cortical, rapid emotion-processing system. We argue that a clear way to ascertain whether this system is affected in autism is by measuring unconscious emotional reactivity. Using backwards masking, we presented fearful expressions non-consciously (subliminally) as well as consciously (supraliminally), and measured pupillary responses as an index of emotional reactivity in 19 children with autism and 19 typically developing children, aged 2-5 years. The pupillary responses of the children with autism revealed reduced unconscious emotional reactivity, with no group differences on consciously presented emotion. Together, these results indicate a hyporesponsiveness to non-consciously presented emotion suggesting a fundamental difference in emotion processing in autism, which requires consciousness and more time.
authors.affiliation: Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: h.nuske@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Nuske
authors.affiliation: Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia; The Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: g.vivanti@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vivanti
authors.affiliation: Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: k.hudry@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Kristelle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hudry
authors.affiliation: Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychological Science, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria 3086, Australia. Electronic address: c.dissanayake@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dissanayake
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary / Q000502:physiology*; D013360:Subliminal Stimulation
keywords: Autism; Autonomic nervous system; Backwards masking; Emotion; Eye-tracking; Implicit; Physiological responding; Pupil dilation; Pupillometry; Subliminal; Unconscious