title: Norm-based coding of facial identity in adults with autism spectrum disorder.
abstract: It is unclear whether reported deficits in face processing in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) can be explained by deficits in perceptual face coding mechanisms. In the current study, we examined whether adults with ASD showed evidence of norm-based opponent coding of facial identity, a perceptual process underlying the recognition of facial identity in typical adults. We began with an original face and an averaged face and then created an anti-face that differed from the averaged face in the opposite direction from the original face by a small amount (near adaptor) or a large amount (far adaptor). To test for norm-based coding, we adapted participants on different trials to the near versus far adaptor, then asked them to judge the identity of the averaged face. We varied the size of the test and adapting faces in order to reduce any contribution of low-level adaptation. Consistent with the predictions of norm-based coding, high functioning adults with ASD (n = 27) and matched typical participants (n = 28) showed identity aftereffects that were larger for the far than near adaptor. Unlike results with children with ASD, the strength of the aftereffects were similar in the two groups. This is the first study to demonstrate norm-based coding of facial identity in adults with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada; ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia. Electronic address: walshj5@mcmaster.ca.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada; ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada; ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Vida
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rhodes
authors.affiliation: ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton L8S 4L8, Canada; ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Department of Psychology, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Rutherford
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological; D005145:Face; D000066499:Facial Recognition / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005366:Figural Aftereffect / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism; Face processing; Facial identity; Norm-based face coding