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Face Perception and Social Cognitive Development in Early Autism: A Prospective Longitudinal Study from 3 Months to 7 Years of Age

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Face Perception and Social Cognitive Development in Early Autism: A Prospective Longitudinal Study from 3 Months to 7 Years of Age
Language: English
Authors: Xiaomei Zhou (ORCID 0000-0002-1264-0553), Hasan Siddiqui, M. D. Rutherford (ORCID 0000-0002-7685-8076)
Source: Child Development. 2025 96(1):104-121.
Availability: Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www.wiley.com/en-us
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Nonverbal Communication, Social Cognition, Adjustment (to Environment), Theory of Mind, Child Development, Behavior Development, Social Development, Young Children
DOI: 10.1111/cdev.14144
ISSN: 0009-3920
1467-8624
Abstract: Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is characterized by atypical attention to eyes and faces, but the onset and impact of these atypicalities remain unclear. This prospective longitudinal study examined face perception in infants who develop ASC (N = 22, female = 5, 100% White) compared with typically developing infants (N = 131, female = 65, 55.6% White), tracking social-cognitive and ASC development through age seven. Reduced interest in direct gaze and eyes during infancy correlated with atypical development of adaptive behavior at age four and theory of mind at age seven. Principal component analyses revealed less integrated processing of facial features and eye-gaze information in ASC infants, potentially impacting their childhood social functioning. These findings highlight the intertwined nature of social-cognitive development and ASC.
Abstractor: As Provided
Notes: https://osf.io/k7w3e/?view_only=359f306f2f874db1a0cab93737e59fca
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1455453
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is characterized by atypical attention to eyes and faces, but the onset and impact of these atypicalities remain unclear. This prospective longitudinal study examined face perception in infants who develop ASC (N = 22, female = 5, 100% White) compared with typically developing infants (N = 131, female = 65, 55.6% White), tracking social-cognitive and ASC development through age seven. Reduced interest in direct gaze and eyes during infancy correlated with atypical development of adaptive behavior at age four and theory of mind at age seven. Principal component analyses revealed less integrated processing of facial features and eye-gaze information in ASC infants, potentially impacting their childhood social functioning. These findings highlight the intertwined nature of social-cognitive development and ASC.
ISSN:0009-3920
1467-8624
DOI:10.1111/cdev.14144