title: Enhanced global integration of closed contours in individuals with high levels of autistic-like traits.
abstract: Individuals with autistic traits (measured with Autism-spectrum Quotient, AQ) often excel in detecting shapes hidden within complex structures (e.g. on the Embedded Figures Test, EFT). This facility has been attributed to either weaker global integration of scene elements or enhanced local processing, but 'local' and 'global' have various meanings in the literature. The function of specific global visual mechanisms involved in integrating contours, similar to EFT targets was examined. High AQ scorers produced enhanced performance on the EFT and an alternative Radial Frequency Search Task. Contrary to 'generic' interpretations of weaker global pooling, this group displayed stronger pooling of contour components that was correlated with search ability. This study therefore shows a global contour integration advantage in high AQ observers.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Renita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: J Edwin
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dickinson
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: Murray T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Maybery
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia; Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry, Graylands Hospital, Australia.
authors.forename: Johanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Badcock
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Australia. Electronic address: david.badcock@uwa.edu.au.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Badcock
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism-spectrum Quotient; Embedded Figures Test; Global contour integration; Radial frequency patterns; Visual processing; Visual search