Gestalt processing and its implications on affect recognition in adolescents with high-functioning autism

Abstract

Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder whereby individuals experience deficits in social interaction, communication as well as imagination with stereotyped repetitive interests. Existing literature suggests that there may be abnormalities in the visual processes of these individuals. The current study explores the visual processes associated with affect recognition in adolescents with high-functioning autism. Specifically, the study looked at the constructs of local processing and Gestalt processing. Local processing was measured by the Figure-Ground subtest of the TVPS-3. Gestalt processing was specifically separated from the construct of global processing and was measured by the Visual Closure subtest of the TVPS-3 together with an experimental task. Affect recognition was measured by the Affect Recognition subtest within NEPSY-II. The current study found no significant differences in the local and Gestalt processing of adolescents with high-functioning autism from the typically developing adolescents. Adolescents with autism performed significantly poorer than typically developing adolescents on the affect recognition task. In addition, no significant relationship was found between the performances on the affect recognition and Gestalt processing tasks. We concluded that the lack of a matched sample, small sample size and inappropriate measurement tools contributed to the lack of significant findings in the current study. Future research may be developed to rectify these shortcomings.