title: Susceptibility to Optical Illusions Varies as a Function of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient but not in Ways Predicted by Local-Global Biases.
abstract: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder and those with autistic tendencies in non-clinical groups are thought to have a perceptual style privileging local details over global integration. We used 13 illusions to investigate this perceptual style in typically developing adults with various levels of autistic traits. Illusory susceptibility was entered into a principal-component analysis. Only one factor, consisting of the Shepard's tabletops and Square-diamond illusions, was found to have reduced susceptibility as a function of autistic traits. Given that only two illusions were affected and that these illusions depend mostly on the processing of within-object relational properties, we conclude there is something distinct about autistic-like perceptual functioning but not in ways predicted by a preference of local over global elements.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia. p.chouinard@latrobe.edu.au.
authors.forename: Philippe A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chouinard
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Katy L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Unwin
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia.
authors.forename: Oriane
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Landry
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of East Anglia, Norwich, England, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sperandio
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009903:Optical Illusions / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Autism-spectrum quotient (AQ); Illusory susceptibility; Shepard’s tabletops illusion; Visual illusions; Visual perception