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Relationships Among Eye Gaze, Social Ability and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway Activation in Children and Adolescents with Autistic Disorder

Abstract Details

2016, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Xavier University, Psychology.
Previous eye tracking research suggested that children and adolescents with Autistic Disorder (AD) exhibit atypical gaze patterns while observing dynamic social interactions. The relationship among atypical gaze patterns, social ability, and underlying biological conditions has yet to be investigated. The present study utilized eye tracking technology to investigate the gaze patterns of 26 typically developing children and adolescents, ages 5-17, and 38 aged-matched peers with AD as they viewed a dynamic play scene. Between-group differences in the static activation level of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in peripheral lymphocytes were also explored. Children and adolescents with AD displayed shorter fixations on faces and took longer to fixate on a face compared to participants without AD. Additionally, participants with AD had almost twice the amount of static ERK activation in peripheral lymphocytes than control participants. The atypical gaze patterns of participants with AD were not associated with social ability or ERK activation level. The findings demonstrate that atypical gaze extends to social play scenes for individuals with AD. Further investigation is needed on the implications of the ERK pathway in children and adolescents with AD and the extent to which eye tracking research directly relates to real-world social abilities.
Janet Schultz, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Kathleen Hart, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Craig Erickson, Ph.D. (Committee Member)

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Carter, M. H. (2016). Relationships Among Eye Gaze, Social Ability and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway Activation in Children and Adolescents with Autistic Disorder [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1461587486

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Carter, Molly. Relationships Among Eye Gaze, Social Ability and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway Activation in Children and Adolescents with Autistic Disorder. 2016. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1461587486.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Carter, Molly. "Relationships Among Eye Gaze, Social Ability and Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Pathway Activation in Children and Adolescents with Autistic Disorder." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2016. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1461587486

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)