Children with Autism show Atypical Preference for Non-social Stimuli

Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 17;9(1):10355. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-46705-8.

Abstract

The present investigation describes three studies testing the hypothesis that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show an atypical preference for non-social stimuli. Preference for non-social and social stimuli was assessed using applications on a portable tablet computer. Twenty-eight children with ASD were matched on developmental age with the chronological age of 41 typically developing (TD) children. The non-social stimuli consisted of six different films of abstract moving geometric patterns. Social stimuli were six different films of the face of young adults (Study 1 and 3) or six films of different dogs' faces (Study 2). When given a choice between the non-social and social stimuli, children with ASD preferred the non-social stimuli. When the human faces were replaced with dogs' faces the participants with ASD continued to prefer the non-social stimuli. A high reinforcement value of non-social stimuli was also demonstrated when the non-social stimuli were presented alone, suggesting the preference for the non-social stimuli was not simply an avoidance of social stimuli. Whenever an infant prefers non-social stimuli over social stimuli, non-typical development in social communication and social interests may result, together with the development of high levels and frequently occurring stereotyped and repetitive behavior. These behaviors define Autism.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Attention*
  • Autistic Disorder / psychology*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dogs
  • Face
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motion
  • Motivation
  • Patient Preference*
  • Photic Stimulation*
  • Socialization