Interpersonal matching of autistic trait levels in typically developed individuals is associated with spontaneous gaze following and initiation during face-to-face social interaction

Objectives

People with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) usually exhibit typical behaviours and thoughts that are called autistic traits. Autistic traits are widely and continuously distributed among typically developed (TD) and ASD populations. Previous studies have found that people with ASD have difficulty in following the eye gaze of social peers. However, it remains unknown whether TD adults with high or low autistic traits also differ in spontaneous gaze following and initiation in face-to-face social interactions. To fill this gap, this study used a novel and naturalistic gaze-cueing paradigm to examine this research question.

Design

A 4 (group: high-high, high-low, low-high or low-low autistic traits) × 3 (congruency: congruent, neutral, or incongruent) mixed-measures design was used.

Methods

Typically developed adults who were high or low in autistic traits completed a visual search task while a confederate who was high or low in autistic traits sat facing them. Critically, the match of autistic traits within a participant–confederate pair was manipulated. The confederate gazed at (congruent) or away from (incongruent) the location of the target prior to the appearance of the target. Participants were not explicitly instructed to follow the confederate's gaze.

Results

Autistic traits were associated with spontaneous gaze following and initiation in face-to-face social interactions. Specifically, only when both the participant and confederate were low in autistic traits did the incongruent gaze cues of confederates interfere with the participants' responses.

Conclusions

Autistic traits impeded gaze following and initiation by TD adults. This study has theoretical and practical implications regarding autistic trait-induced social deficits and indicates a new approach for social skill interventions.