Perception of biological motions is preserved in people with autism spectrum disorder: electrophysiological and behavioural evidences

Abstract

BACKGROUND\nThere have been some controversies over the ability of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to perceive biological motion. In this study, we used electroencephalography and behavioural measures (recognition test) to examine whether or not children with ASD can correctly identify biological motion.\n\n\nMETHOD\nTwenty participants with ASD (mean\xa0=\xa011.3, SD\xa0=\xa02.1\xa0years) and 20 typically developed (TD) participants (mean\xa0=\xa011.4, SD\xa0=\xa02.8\xa0years) participated in the study. They watched videos and point light displays of actions, and their EEG was recorded. Then they answered action recognition test, and their accuracy and response times were recorded.\n\n\nRESULTS\nOur findings showed that children with ASD had the same mu suppression as a TD age-matched control group in both point light display and video presentations. Furthermore, the results showed that while TD and ASD groups did not differ in accuracy, ASD participants had a slower reaction time.\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nTaken together, our results indicate that the perception of non-emotional BMs is preserved in children with ASD.