1. New research explains autistics’
exceptional visual abilities
Mapping data shows enhanced activity in the
“perception” part of the brain
Fabienne Samson, Laurent Mottron, Isabelle Soulières
& Thomas Zeffiro
Enhanced visual functioning in autism: an ALE meta-analysis
Human Brain Mapping

2. Superior visual ability in autism
• At least 1 out of 2 excel
in visuo-spatial tasks
• Some will develop exceptional
abilities in 3D drawing

3. Enhanced perception in autism
suggests that the brain of autistic
individuals processes visual
information differently

4. What is going on in autistics’
brain that confer an advantage
in perception tasks?

5. What is perception ?
• Processes by which information is recorded by
the brain
• Brain regions involved in visual perception and
in the control of thoughts and actions

6. Quantitative meta-analysis
• Synthesis of independent research results
• Reveals brain areas showing consistent
activation across studies for specific task or
stimulus
• Can be used to compare patterns of activity
between groups

7. Our study
• Meta-analysis of 26 neuroimaging studies
(1995 – 2009) where visual information was
presented to a total of 357 autistics and 370
non-autistics.
• Tasks include
• Face processing
• Object processing
• Reading

8. A superior use of visual brain
AUTISTICS > NON AUTISTICS
NON AUTISTICS > AUTISTICS
Detection, identification, Plan and control
manipulation of visual information thoughts and actions

9. Enhanced perception in autism
No matter what the task is, autistics will
use visual areas of the brain to a greater
extent than non autistics
Face processing Objects Reading

10. A superior use of regions dedicated
to visual expertise
FACES OBJECTS READING
Fusiform gyrus

11. Atypical visual expertise in autism
• Brain areas associated with domain-specific
expertise are more active and distributed
• E.g.: Face processing regions are the most
active! Face perception is atypical, but not
impaired

12. A superior role of perception in
intelligence
• General functional reorganization of the
brain in favor of pattern detection and
manipulation system (e.g. mental rotation)
• Consistent with enhanced visuo-spatial
abilities
• Autistics perform successfully, albeit in their
own way, tasks involving frontal areas in
typical individuals

13. Implications for
understanding autism
• Autism could be described as a
perceptual superiority (unique) rather
than social deficit (poorly specific)

14. Implications for
helping & educating autistics
• Building on autistics’ perceptual ability in
teaching rather than imposing same
information processing as in non-autistics
• E.g.: Exposition to visual information
(written material)