Exploring how material cues drive sensorimotor prediction across different levels of autistic-like traits.
Recent research proposes that sensorimotor difficulties, such as those experienced by many autistic people, may arise from atypicalities in prediction. Accordingly, we examined the relationship between non-clinical autistic-like traits and sensorimotor prediction in the material-weight illusion, where prior expectations derived from material cues typically bias one's perception and action. Specifically, prediction-related tendencies in perception of weight, gaze patterns, and lifting actions were probed using a combination of self-report, eye-tracking, motion-capture, and force-based measures. No prediction-related associations between autistic-like traits and sensorimotor control emerged for any of these variables. Follow-up analyses, however, revealed that greater autistic-like traits were correlated with reduced adaptation of gaze with changes in environmental uncertainty. These findings challenge proposals of gross predictive atypicalities in autistic people, but suggest that the dynamic integration of prior information and environmental statistics may be related to autistic-like traits. Further research into this relationship is warranted in autistic populations, to assist the development of future movement-based coaching methods.
['Arthur|Tom|T|', 'Vine|Sam|S|', 'Brosnan|Mark|M|', 'Buckingham|Gavin|G|http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6950-5504']
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological D000328:Adult D059031:Anticipation, Psychological D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena D003463:Cues D053483:Eye Movement Measurements D005260:Female D005403:Fixation, Ocular D006801:Humans D007088:Illusions D008297:Male D014796:Visual Perception D014892:Weight Perception D055815:Young Adult
Autism Grip force Movement Object lifting Weight illusion