ePoster

Neurophysiology of perceptual closure abilities in children with autism spectrum disorder and neurotypical control children

Erin Bojanek, Edward G. Freedman, John J. Foxe
FENS Forum 2024(2024)
Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Conference

FENS Forum 2024

Messe Wien Exhibition & Congress Center, Vienna, Austria

Resources

Authors & Affiliations

Erin Bojanek, Edward G. Freedman, John J. Foxe

Abstract

Visual perception differences are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) including a bias towards local object features over the gestalt. Using a perceptual closure paradigm, this study aims to examine the neurophysiology of local-global object perception by studying how the visual system fills in missing information during incomplete viewing conditions in children with ASD and neurotypical (NT) controls. Data collection is ongoing; currently 7 ASD participants and 7 NT controls, ages 7-14 years have completed the perceptual closure paradigm during EEG recording. Participants are shown a series of image sets consisting of 8 images of progressively greater fragmentation. Images are presented from least complete to most complete. Participants indicate whether they can identify the image and following identification, the image set is terminated. Using this paradigm, our group previously identified the closure negativity (Ncl), an ERP component which reflects the perceptual closure process. This study will examine the amplitude of the Ncl at the identification level and the three levels prior. Preliminary data show that there is an emerging Ncl in both groups, particularly in older participants, suggesting that perceptual closure abilities may reach adult levels later in development. Further, we found that both groups show greater modulation within P1 for object identification and prior images, which is not seen in adults, suggesting that children interpret each fragmented image as different objects rather than interpreting the image set as a perceptual whole. Further examination will be necessary to understand the development of local-global object perception in children with ASD.

Unique ID: fens-24/neurophysiology-perceptual-closure-f7644bae