A systematic review and meta-analysis of eye-tracking studies in children with autism spectrum disorders

E A Papagiannopoulou; K M Chitty; Daniel F Hermens; I B Hickie; Jim Lagopoulos

doi:10.1080/17470919.2014.934966

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of eye-tracking studies in children with autism spectrum disorders

Journal article

Peer reviewed

A systematic review and meta-analysis of eye-tracking studies in children with autism spectrum disorders

E A Papagiannopoulou, K M Chitty, Daniel F Hermens, I B Hickie and Jim Lagopoulos

Social Neuroscience, Vol.9(6), pp.610-632

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17470919.2014.934966

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Abstract

ASD

children

eye-gaze

face-processing

fixation

meta-analysis

Aberrant eye gaze mechanisms have been implicated in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Studies of eye movements in children with ASD reveal diminished eye gaze duration and lack of specific eye gaze fixation to the eyes and/or mouth compared with controls. However, findings to date have been contradictory. We examined eye-tracking studies on face processing in children with ASD and conducted meta-analyses to examine whether these children demonstrate atypical fixation on primary facial regions. Twenty eye-tracking studies in children with ASD were reviewed, of which the results from 14 studies were incorporated in the meta-analyses that evaluated fixation duration on (i) eyes (eight studies) and (ii) mouth (six studies). The results reveal that children with ASD have significantly reduced gaze fixation to the eye region of faces. The results of the meta-analyses indicate that ASD patients have significant impairments in gaze fixation to the eyes. On the other hand, no significant difference was uncovered in terms of fixation to the mouth region; however, this finding needs to be interpreted with caution because of the significant heterogeneity in the mouth fixation studies. The findings of this meta-analysis add further clarity to an expanding literature and suggest that specific eye gaze fixation to the eye region may represent a robust biomarker for the condition. The heterogeneity associated with the mouth fixation data precludes any definitive statement as to the robustness of these findings. © 2014 Taylor & Francis.

Details

Title: A systematic review and meta-analysis of eye-tracking studies in children with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: E A Papagiannopoulou (Author) - University of Sydney
K M Chitty (Author) - University of Sydney
Daniel F Hermens (Author) - University of Sydney
I B Hickie (Author) - University of Sydney
Jim Lagopoulos (Author) - University of Sydney
Publication details: Social Neuroscience, Vol.9(6), pp.610-632
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1080/17470919.2014.934966
ISSN: 1747-0919
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Thompson Institute
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450087602621
Output Type: Journal article

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