Autistic Traits are Associated with Less Precise Perceptual Integration of Face Identity

Abstract

Face recognition difficulties are common in autism and could be a consequence of perceptual atypicalities that disrupt the ability to integrate current and prior information. We tested this theory by measuring the strength of serial dependence for faces (i.e., how likely is it that current perception of a face is biased towards a previously seen face) across the broader autism phenotype. Though serial dependence was not weaker in individuals with more autistic traits, more autistic traits were associated with greater integration of less similar faces. These results suggest that serial dependence is less specialised, and may not operate optimally, in individuals with more autistic traits and could therefore be a contributing factor to autism-linked face recognition difficulties.

Autistic traits are associated with differences in the perception of genuineness and approachability in emotional facial expressions, independently of alexithymia.

“…However, here we found no evidence of gender differences on scores on any questionnaire. This is consistent with other reports in similar samples showing little or no gender differences on the questionnaires used here (Bothe et al, 2019; Palermo et al, 2018; Turbett et al, 2021).…”

Serial dependence of facial identity for own- and other-race faces

“…This value quantified whether serial dependence was greatest for more similar stimuli, or whether it was used across a broader range of faces and the extent that this occurred. The tuning value was calculated by subtracting the gradient for the dissimilar faces (calculated by fitting a linear regression to the ±24 trials) from the gradient for the similar faces (as in Turbett et al, 2019; Turbett, Jeffery, et al, 2022; Turbett, Palermo, et al, 2021, see Figure 2). A larger, positive tuning value indicates greater serial dependence for similar faces than dissimilar faces (narrower tuning) while a value closer to zero or a negative value indicates that serial dependence increased as dissimilarity increased (broader tuning).…”

“…Serial dependence of Caucasian Facial Identity Task. This task has been used previously to examine the strength and tuning of serial dependence of facial identity for Caucasian faces (Turbett et al, 2019;Turbett, Jeffery, et al, 2022;Turbett, Palermo, et al, 2021). Some of the following detail regarding the task methodology and variable calculation was taken from Turbett et al (2019).…”

“…Serial dependence is typically strongest when stimuli are more similar (Alexi et al, 2018;Cicchini et al, 2018;Turbett et al, 2019), therefore to calculate the strength of serial dependence of facial identity, a linear regression (as in Alexi et al, 2018;Cicchini et al, 2014Cicchini et al, , 2018Turbett et al, 2019;Turbett, Jeffery, et al, 2022;Turbett, Palermo, et al, 2021) was fit to the ±12% trials (trials where Face 1 and Face 2 were closer together on the morph continuum and more similar to one another, see Figure 2). A positive gradient indicated individuals were biased towards the previous identity consistent with serial dependence, a value of zero indicated no bias, while a negative value indicated that individuals were biased away from the previous identity, consistent with adaptation.…”

Association of maternal polygenic risk scores for mental illness with perinatal risk factors for offspring mental illness

“…For example, smoking initiation and relapse have been associated with negative affect (41,42), which is a factor shared by MDD, neuroticism, and ADHD. In addition, genetic risk for mental illness has been associated with risktaking behavior (43,44), low self-esteem (45), deficits in emotional regulation (46), and reduced ability to interpret facial expressions (47,48). These traits are associated with increased risk of being targeted for IPV and might be pathways through which genetic risk is associated with the experience of IPV in the perinatal period (49)(50)(51)(52).…”