Motion and form coherence detection in autistic spectrum disorder: Relationship to motor control and 2:4 digit ratio

J Autism Dev Disord. 2006 Feb;36(2):225-37. doi: 10.1007/s10803-005-0052-3.

Abstract

Children with autistic spectrum disorder and controls performed tasks of coherent motion and form detection, and motor control. Additionally, the ratio of the 2nd and 4th digits of these children, which is thought to be an indicator of foetal testosterone, was measured. Children in the experimental group were impaired at tasks of motor control, and had lower 2D:4D than controls. There were no group differences in motion or form detection. However a sub-group of children with autism were selectively impaired at motion detection. There were significant relationships between motion coherence detection and motor control in both groups of children, and also between motion detection, fine motor control and 2D:4D in the group of children with autistic spectrum disorder.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asperger Syndrome / blood
  • Asperger Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Asperger Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Autistic Disorder / blood
  • Autistic Disorder / diagnosis
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fetal Blood / chemistry
  • Form Perception*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Motion Perception*
  • Perceptual Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Perceptual Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Signal Detection, Psychological*
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Testosterone