Differences in infants’ perceptual skill ‘linked to later autism symptoms’

Differences in perceptual skill in very young infants may play a key role in the development of autism, according to a new study.

Published in the journal Current Biology, the study looked at infants known to be at higher risk of autism based on the diagnosis of an older sibling, who were given tests of perceptual skill.

It was found that infants with enhanced visual searching ability at nine months old also had more emergent autism symptoms at 15 months and at two years, suggesting that enhanced perceptual ability is intrinsically linked to the emerging autism phenotype.

The research indicates that the eye-tracking technology used to analyse perception skills may also be helpful as part of future batteries of screening tests for early signs of autism.

Teodora Gliga of the Babylab, part of the Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development at Birkbeck, University of London, said: "Evidence is now accumulating for early differences in non-social motor and perceptual abilities, which calls for a reassessment of developmental theories of autism."

Future studies may now focus on exploring and explaining the links between increased visual perception or attention and difficulties in social interaction, learning and communication.