Autistic adults exhibit holistic face processing: evidence from inversion and composite face effects

Abstract

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Holistic processing is commonly measured by the face inversion effect (FIE) and the composite face effect (CFE). Previous studies examining whether individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) employ holistic processing using either FIE or CFE have reported inconclusive results. By adopting a customized composite face paradigm, the present study aims to simultaneously assess both the inversion and the composite effects of holistic processing in autistic and neurotypical adults. We tested 24 adults with ASD and 24 neurotypical (NT) adults matched in age, gender, and years of education. Participants viewed sequentially presented composite faces in three Presentation Modes (aligned, inverted, and misaligned) with three Stimuli Conditions (same, composite, and different) and judged whether the top half was the same. For the dependent variables, we calculated a “performance index” in the form of the accuracy/response time of each stimuli condition in each presentation mode. The FIE and CFE were computed to index the magnitude of holistic processing. Our results showed that the NT group responded more accurately in less time than the ASD group across task conditions. Notably, both the NT and the ASD groups exhibited a significant FIE with similar magnitude. Likewise, both the NT and the ASD groups showed a greater-than-zero CFE. Moreover, individuals’ CFE positively correlated with FIE and negatively correlated with the AQ scores for all participants. In summary, individuals with ASD exhibit holistic processing when viewing faces, evidenced by the presence of both FIE and CFE and the positive correlations between the two effects.

Keywords

• face perception
• composite face effect
• face inversion effect
• holistic processing
• autism spectrum disorders