Autism and the Development of Face Processing

by Callie Toal 
Kenyon College 
Freshmen 
I chose this topic because I find it really interesting that people with Autism process faces differently, its something I never thought of. My blog post is an annotated bibliography about the social brain, specifically autism. This article explores the differences of facial recognition and processing of people with autism.  

Golarai, G., Grill-Spector, K., & Reiss, A.L (2006) Autism and the development of face processing. CLinical Neuroscience Research, 6, 145-160.  Retrieved March 28, 2019 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2174902/

After reading the paper “Autism and the development of face processing” the concept that raises the most questions in my mind is atypical brain structure and chemistry from birth versus change in brain structure and chemistry over time. This does a thorough job in explaining the symptoms and behaviors of a person with autism. They explain that it is primarily a developmental condition that affects communication, behavior, and relationships. Throughout the article behavior associated with Autism Spectrum disorder are also listed such as lack of eye contact and lack of interest in social situations. Due to the association of these symptoms based specifically in facial recognition and facial expression processing, this article explores three areas of the brain that play a large role in facial recognition and processing of facial expression emotions.

   Golarai, Grill-Spector, and Reiss first explores the superior temporal sulcus (STS) that is the part of the brain associated with the recognition of visual signals relating to emotion and motion specifically in the eyes and mouth. The research in this article does point to a discrepancy in brain structure and function between neurotypical people and people with Autism.

   Golarai, et. al. explore the fusiform face area (FFA) that plays a large role in facial recognition. One interesting piece of research that is explained is the development of the FFA over time. The physical size of the FFA in the brain increases as children get older which correlates with the stronger ability to utilize facial recognition. When comparing the FFA in a person with Autism to a neurotypical person it was apparent that the FFA has increased activity in the brain of a neurotypical person.

   Finally, Golarai et. al. explore the amygdala, which is associated with response to faces, specifically those displaying fear. The research described indicates that there are discrepancies in both structure and function of the amygdala in people with Autism. The Amygdala is larger in people with Autism and when labeling faces with emotion the amygdala has lower activation than their neurotypical counterparts.

   All of this evidence shows that there is a large difference in the facial recognition and processing of people with Autism that is not only demonstrated by systemic behavior but actual brain structure and function. What this article does not address is the complex concept of the development of symptoms of autism versus the deficits one with autism is born with. All of the studies discussed in the article were done with young children or adults making it difficult to discern if this discrepancy in brain function and structure was caused over time by the behavior of someone with autism. For example, the research surrounding the FFA does show that even in neurotypical subjects the areas become larger over time. This indicates that due to the lack of eye contact and facial expression processing associated with Autism the FFA could have deficits that were not there at birth. Unlike the FFA the STS focuses more on the ability to track eye movement and facial movement. Again, people who are neurotypical did show a heightened ability to track eye movement associated with activation in the STS, but nothing about the development of this part of the brain suggests that this changes as people age. The research done thus far in this article into the area of facial processing and recognition in people with Autism is extremely helpful because it gives clinicians information on brain function that could help them to develop more supports to address the symptoms people with Autism face. It also is an important article because it begins the quest to continue to explore the cause and development of Autism. Additionally, a similar article by Kami Koldewyn and Nancy Kanwisher describe a study that shows that children with Autism Spectrum Disorder are impaired in face memory, but not face perception, leading them to conclude that the process is specific.  


https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2174902/#R55

https://www.spectrumnews.org/news/face-processing-network-weaker-in-autism-scientists-say/