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Face Processing in the Broad Autism Phenotype: Exploring Face Processing as an Endophenotype of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Feldman, Benjamin H.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1427815061

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Psychology.
The Broader Autistic Phenotype (BAP) consists of milder Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) characteristics that occur in some relatives of people with ASD. The core ASD deficits in communication, socialization, and stereotyped/repetitive behavior have been found to manifest themselves separately in the BAP. Due to the strong hereditary nature of ASD, the ASD components expressed in family members of people with ASD meeting criteria for the BAP can serve as endophenotypes in the study of ASD. Many of the social problems experienced by people with ASD stem from deficits in facial processing. Since the BAP consists of mild socialization impairment, face processing has also been studied in relatives of people with ASD, with results showing subclinical similarity to ASD. Lacking in these face processing studies has been: the examination of typical ASD face processing strategies, attention to the siblings of people with ASD who meet criteria for the BAP, and examination of the relationship of the severity level of the proband with ASD to the BAP level and face processing ability of the relatives of people with ASD. This study measured face identity discrimination and emotion recognition in 178 parents and siblings of people with ASD using the Let’s Face It Skills Battery. In addition, participants were assessed on the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire, and the Social Communication Questionnaire. While overall face processing scores of family members of people with ASD meeting criteria for the BAP were similar to those family members not meeting BAP criteria, relatives of people with ASD scoring high on the BAPQ component of Rigidity performed worse on face processing measures than relatives of people with ASD scoring low on Rigidity. BAPQ scores did show some negative correlations with LFI scores, i.e. the higher the BAPQ score the lower the LFI score. In addition, it was found in families of people with ASD that males had higher BAP levels and worse face discrimination processing skills than females. Finally, when BAP level, gender, and severity of the proband with ASD were placed a multiple regression model to predict LFI performance, it was found that overall the model was a better fit than just IQ alone, with BAPQ Rigidity level, BAPQ Pragmatic Language, and Gender as the significant predictors of LFI score. The results indicate that while face processing is an endophenotype of ASD, it may be more related to Rigidity components that social Aloofness. Besides drawing attention to face processing interventions for people with ASD that build on the component of Rigidity rather than correcting social Aloofness, this study may also help clinicians better understand the profiles of the families of people with ASD as well.
Anastasia Dimitropoulos (Advisor)
Short Elizabeth (Committee Member)
Mahoney Gerald (Committee Member)
Lewis Barbara (Committee Member)
180 p.
Experimental Psychology; Psychology
autism spectrum disorder; face processing; broad autism phenotype

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Feldman, B. H. (2015). Face Processing in the Broad Autism Phenotype: Exploring Face Processing as an Endophenotype of Autism Spectrum Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1427815061

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Feldman, Benjamin. Face Processing in the Broad Autism Phenotype: Exploring Face Processing as an Endophenotype of Autism Spectrum Disorder. 2015. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1427815061.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Feldman, Benjamin. "Face Processing in the Broad Autism Phenotype: Exploring Face Processing as an Endophenotype of Autism Spectrum Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1427815061

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1427815061
761
© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.