An Event-Related Potential Study on the Perception and the Recognition of Face, Facial Features, and Objects in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders

The study investigated whether children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) showed atypical patterns of brain specialization for face processing, whether the response to familiar and unfamiliar faces, facial features, and objects were different from typically developing children. Event-related potentials were recorded in 5- to 8-year-old children (12 children with ASD, 12 typically developing children) using passive viewing paradigm. The fastest P1 latencies to faces and the largest P1 amplitudes to objects were observed in both participant groups. Both groups exhibited larger N170 response to faces and eyes, F(3, 66)=46.94, p<.0001). However, earlier P1 and N170 latencies were found on left hemisphere in children with ASD, respectively, F(1, 83)=4.32, p=.04; F(1, 83)=6.73, p=.01, indicating an atypical face processing pattern. All children showed a significant effect of familiarity for objects and mouths, F(1, 71)=33.97, p<.0001; F(1, 71=15.94, p=.0002. Children with ASD revealed smaller negative central to faces relative to typically developing children. Face processing abnormalities revealed in children with ASD very likely exist.