title: Spatio-temporal processing of tactile stimuli in autistic children.
abstract: Altered multisensory integration has been reported in autism; however, little is known concerning how the autistic brain processes spatio-temporal information concerning tactile stimuli. We report a study in which a crossed-hands illusion was investigated in autistic children. Neurotypical individuals often experience a subjective reversal of temporal order judgments when their hands are stimulated while crossed, and the illusion is known to be acquired in early childhood. However, under those conditions where the somatotopic representation is given priority over the actual spatial location of the hands, such reversals may not occur. Here, we showed that a significantly smaller illusory reversal was demonstrated in autistic children than in neurotypical children. Furthermore, in an additional experiment, the young boys who had higher Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) scores generally showed a smaller crossed hands deficit. These results suggest that rudimentary spatio-temporal processing of tactile stimuli exists in autistic children, and the altered processing may interfere with the development of an external frame of reference in real-life situations.
authors.affiliation: 1] Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa 359-8555, Japan [2] Developmental Disorders Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa 359-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Information Center for Persons with Developmental Disabilities, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa 359-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Mayuko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.affiliation: Chichibu Gakuen, Rehabilitation Services Bureau, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa 359-8555, Japan.
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takaki
authors.affiliation: Division of Developmental Neuropsychology, Department of Psychological Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan.
authors.forename: Masutomo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miyao
authors.affiliation: Crossmodal Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spence
authors.affiliation: 1] Systems Neuroscience Section, Department of Rehabilitation for Brain Functions, Research Institute of National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa 359-8555, Japan [2] Brain Science Inspired Life Support Research Center, The University of Electro-Communications, Tokyo 182-8585, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kansaku
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D007839:Functional Laterality; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D007088:Illusions / Q000523:psychology; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D011601:Psychophysics; D011930:Reaction Time; D013028:Space Perception; D013998:Time Perception; D014110:Touch; D055698:Touch Perception
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