Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is characterized by atypical attention to eyes and faces, but the onset and impact of these atypicalities remain unclear. This prospective longitudinal study examined face perception in infants who develop ASC (N = 22, female = 5, 100% White) compared with typically developing infants (N = 131, female = 65, 55.6% White), tracking social-cognitive and ASC development through age seven. Reduced interest in direct gaze and eyes during infancy correlated with atypical development of adaptive behavior at age four and theory of mind at age seven. Principal component analyses revealed less integrated processing of facial features and eye-gaze information in ASC infants, potentially impacting their childhood social functioning. These findings highlight the intertwined nature of social-cognitive development and ASC.

中文翻译：

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早期自闭症患者的面部感知和社会认知发展：一项 3 个月至 7 岁的前瞻性纵向研究


自闭症谱系疾病（ASC）的特点是对眼睛和面部的非典型关注，但这些非典型现象的发生和影响仍不清楚。这项前瞻性纵向研究检查了患有 ASC 的婴儿（ N = 22，女性 = 5，100% 白人）与正常发育婴儿（ N = 131，女性 = 65，55.6% 白人）的面部感知，跟踪社会认知和 ASC七岁之前的发育。婴儿期对直视和眼睛的兴趣减少与四岁时适应性行为和七岁时心理理论的非典型发展相关。主成分分析显示，ASC 婴儿的面部特征和眼睛注视信息的综合处理能力较差，这可能会影响他们童年的社会功能。这些发现强调了社会认知发展和 ASC 相互交织的本质。