Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Local and Global Visual Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Influence of Task and Sample Characteristics and Relation to Symptom Severity

  • S.I. : Local vs. Global processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders
  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Local and global visual processing abilities and processing style were investigated in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) versus typically developing individuals, children versus adolescents and boys versus girls. Individuals with ASD displayed more attention to detail in daily life, while laboratory tasks showed slightly reduced global processing abilities, intact local processing abilities, and a more locally oriented processing style. However, the presence of these group differences depended on particular task and sample (i.e., age and gender) characteristics. Most measures of local and global processing did not correlate with each other and were not associated with processing style. Significant associations between local–global processing and ASD symptom severity were observed, but the causality of these associations remains unclear.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Almeida, R. A., Dickinson, J. E., Maybery, M. T., Badcock, J. C., & Badcock, D. R. (2013). Visual search targeting either local or global perceptual processes differs as a function of autistic-like traits in the typically developing population. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 1272–1286.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Annaz, D., Remington, A., Milne, E., Coleman, M., Campbell, R., Thomas, M. S. C., & Swettenham, J. (2010). Development of motion processing in children with autism. Developmental Science, 13, 826–838.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Baldassi, S., Pei, F., Megna, N., Recupero, G., Viespoli, M., Igliozzi, R., et al. (2009). Search superiority in autism within, but not outside the crowding regime. Vision Research, 49, 2151–2156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bar, M. (2003). A cortical mechanism for triggering top-down facilitation in visual object recognition. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 15, 600–609.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bernstein, J. H., & Waber, D. P. (1996). Developmental scoring system for the Rey-Osterrieth figure. Professional manual. Lutz, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertone, A., Mottron, L., Jelenic, P., & Faubert, J. (2003). Motion perception in autism: A ‘complex’ issue. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 15, 218–225.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bertone, A., Mottron, L., Jelenic, P., & Faubert, J. (2005). Enhanced and diminished visuo-spatial information processing in autism depends on stimulus complexity. Brain, 128, 2430–2441.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bodfish, J. W., Symons, F. J., Parker, D. E., & Lewis, M. H. (2000). Varieties of repetitive behavior in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 237–243.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bölte, S., Duketis, E., Poustka, F., & Holtman, M. (2011). Sex differences in cognitive domains and their clinical correlates in higher-functioning autism spectrum disorders. Autism, 15, 497–511.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Booth, R. (2006). Local-global processing and cognitive style in autism spectrum disorder and typical development. Unpublished PhD thesis, King’s College London, London, UK.

  • Braddick, O. J., Atkinson, J., & Wattam-Bell, J. (2003). Normal and anomalous development of visual motion processing: Motion coherence and ‘drosal-stream vulnerability’. Neuropsychologia, 41, 1769–1784.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Braddick, O. J., O’Brian, J. M. D., Wattam-Bell, J., Atkinson, J., & Turner, R. (2000). Form and motion coherence activate independent, but not dorsal/ventral segregated, networks in the human brian. Current Biology, 10, 731–734.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Britten, K. H., Shalden, M. N., Newsome, W. T., & Movshon, J. A. (1992). The analysis of visual motion: A comparison of neuronal and psychophysical performance. Journal of Neuroscience, 12, 4745–4765.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brunsdon, V. E. A., & Happé, F. (2014). Exploring the ‘fractionation’ of autism at the cognitive level. Autism, 18, 17–30.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burnham, K. P., & Anderson, D. R. (2004). Multimodel inference: Understanding AIC and BIC in model selection. Sociological Methods and Research, 33, 261–304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cambridge Cognition. (1996). Cambridge neuropsychological test automated battery. Cambridge: Cambridge Cognition Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences (2nd ed.). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constable, P. A., Solomon, J. A., Gaigg, S. B., & Bowler, D. M. (2012). Crowding and visual search in high functioning adults with autism spectrum disorder. Clinical Optometry, 2, 93–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantino, J. N., & Gruber, C. P. (2005). Social Responsiveness Scale. Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dakin, S., & Frith, U. (2005). Vagaries of visual perception in autism. Neuron, 48, 497–507.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dakin, S. C., Mareschal, I., & Bex, P. J. (2005). Local and global limitations on direction integration assessed using equivalent noise analysis. Vision Research, 45, 3027–3049.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dale, G., & Arnell, K. M. (2013). Investigating the stability and relationships among global/local processing measures. Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 75, 394–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dennis, M., Francis, D. J., Cirino, P. T., Schachar, R., Barnes, M. A., & Fletcher, J. M. (2009). Why IQ is not a covariate in cognitive studies of neurodevelopmental disorders. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 15, 331–343.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Dukette, D., & Stiles, J. (1996). Children’s analysis of hierarchical patterns: Evidence from a similarity judgment task. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 63, 103–140.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, J., & Humphrey, G. W. (1989). Visual search and stimulus similarity. Psychological Review, 96, 433–458.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Evers, K., Panis, S., Torfs, K., Steyaert, J., Noens, I., & Wagemans, J. (2014). Disturbed interplay between mid- and high-level vision in ASD? Evidence from a contour identification task with everyday objects. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 801–815.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frazier, T. W., Youngstrom, E. A., Speer, L., Embacher, R., Law, P., Constantino, J., et al. (2012). Validation of proposed DSM-5 criteria for autism spectrum disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 51, 28–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frith, U. (1989). Autism: Explaining the enigma. Oxford, UK: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frith, U., & Happé, F. (1994). Autism: Beyond theory of mind. Cognition, 50, 115–132.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grinter, E. J., Maybery, M. T., & Badcock, D. R. (2010). Vision in developmental disorders: Is there a dorsal stream deficit? Brain Research Bulletin, 82, 147–160.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Happé, F., & Booth, R. (2008). The power of the positive. Revisiting weak coherence in autism spectrum disorders. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 61, 50–63.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2006). The weak coherence account : Detail-focussed cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(1), 5–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Happé, F., & Ronald, A. (2008). The fractionable autism triad: A review of evidence from behavioural, genetic, cognitive and neural research. Neuropsychology Review, 18(4), 287–304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hessels, R. S., Hooge, I. T. C., Snijders, T. M., & Kemner, C. (2014). Is there a limit to the superiority of individuals with ASD in visual search? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 443–451.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Humphreys, G. W., Quinlan, P. T., & Riddoch, M. J. (1989). Grouping processes in visual search: Effects with single and combined-feature targets. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 118, 258–279.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kaldy, Z., Giserman, I., Carter, A. S., & Blaser, E. (2013). The mechanisms underlying the ASD advantage in visual search. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. doi:10.1007/s10803-013-1957-x.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimchi, R., Amishav, R., & Sulitzeanu-Kenan, A. (2009). Gender differences in global-local perception? Evidence from orientation and shape judgments. Acta Psychologica, 130, 64–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kimchi, R., Hadad, B., Behrmann, M., & Palmer, S. (2005). Microgenesis and ontogenesis of perceptual organization: Evidence from global and local processing of hierarchical patterns. Psychological Science, 16, 282–290.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koldewyn, K., Jian, Y. V., Weigelt, S., & Kanwisher, N. (2013). Global/local processing in autism: Not a disability, but a disinclination. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43, 2329–2340.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kort, W., Schittekatte, M., Dekker, P. H., Verhaeghe, P., Compaan, E. L., Bosmans, M., & Vermeir, G. (2005). WISC-III-NL Wechsler intelligence scale for children-III. Handleiding en verantwoording. London: Harcourt Assessment.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kovács, I. (2000). Human development of perceptual organization. Vision Research, 40, 1301–1310.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, J. H., Ellenberg, L., Leonard, J., & Share, L. J. (1996). Developmental sex differences in global-local perceptual bias. Neuropsychology, 10, 402–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lai, M. C., Lombardo, M. V., Ruigrok, A. N. V., Chakrabarti, B., Wheelwright, S. J., Auyeung, B., et al. (2012). Cognition in males and females with autism: Similarities and differences. PLoS ONE, 7, e47198.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Manning, C., Charman, T., & Pellicano, E. (2013). Processing slow and fast motion in children with autism spectrum conditions. Autism Research, 6, 531–541.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Manning, C., Dakin, S. C., Tibber, M., Charman, T., & Pellicano, E. (2014, May). Local and global contributions to direction integration performance in children with autism spectrum disorder. Oral presentation at the International Meeting for Autism Research, Atlanta, GA.

  • Milne, E., Swettenham, J., Hansen, P., Cambell, R., Jeffries, H., & Plaisted, K. (2002). High motion coherence thresholds in children with autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 43, 255–263.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Milne, E., & Szczerbinski, M. (2009). Global and local perceptual style, field-independence, and central coherence: An attempt at concept validation. Advances in Cognitive Psychology, 5, 1–26.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Minshew, N. J., & Goldstein, G. (1998). Autism as a complex disorder of information-processing. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 4, 129–136.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mishkin, M., Ungerleider, L., & Macko, K. (1983). Object vision and spatial vision: Two central pathways. Trends in Neuroscience, 6, 414–417.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mottron, L., Dawson, M., Soulières, I., Hubert, B., & Burack, J. (2006). Enhanced perceptual functioning in autism: An update, and eight principles of autistic perception. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 27–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noens, I. L. J., & Van Berckelaer-Onnes, I. A. (2005). Captured by details: sense-making, language and communication in autism. Journal of Communication Disorders, 38, 123–141.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Noens, I. L. J., & Van Berckelaer-Onnes, I. A. (2008). The central coherence account in autism revisited: Evidence from the ComFor study. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 2, 209–222.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Riordan, M. A. (2004). Superior visual search in adults with autism. Autism, 8, 229–248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Riordan, M. A., Plaisted, K. C., Driver, J., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2001). Superior visual search in autism. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 27, 719–730.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Osterrieth, P. A. (1944). Le test de copie d’une figure complexe. Contribution a` l’e´tude de la perception et de la me´moire [The copy of a complexe figure test]. Archives de Psychologie, 28, 286–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panis, S., De Winter, J., Vandekerckhove, J., & Wagemans, J. (2008). Identification of everyday objects on the basis of fragmented outline versions. Perception, 37, 271–289.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Panis, S., & Wagemans, J. (2009). Time-course contingencies in perceptual organization and identification of fragmented object outlines. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 35, 661–687.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Quinn, P. C., & Bhatt R. S. (2015). Development of perceptual organization in infancy. In J. Wagemans (Ed.), Oxford handbook of perceptual organization. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

  • Rey, A. (1941). L’examen psychologique dans les cas d’encephalopathie traumatique. [Psychological examination of traumatic encephalopathy]. Archives de Psychologie, 23, 286–340.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roalf, D., Lowery, N., & Turetsky, B. I. (2006). Behavioral and physiological findings of gender differences in global-local visual processing. Brain and Cognition, 60, 32–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, M. E., Barthel, F. M.-S., Lopez, C., Tchanturia, K., & Treasure, J. (2011). Development and validation of the Detail and Flexibility Questionnaire (DFlex) in eating disorders. Eating Behaviors, 12, 168–174.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robertson, C. E., Martin, A., Baker, C. I., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2012). Atypical integration of motion signals in autism spectrum conditions. PLoS ONE, 7, 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Roeyers, H., Thys, M., Druart, C., De Schryver, M., & Schittekatte, M. (2011). SRS: Screeningslijst voor autismespectrumstoornissen, handleiding. Amsterdam: Hogrefe Uitgevers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sattler, J. M., & Saklofske, D. H. (2001). Interpreting the WISC-III. In J. M. Sattler (Ed.), Assessment of children: Cognitive applications (4th ed.). San Diego, CA: Jerome M. Sattler.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherf, K. S., Behrmann, M., Kimchi, R., & Luna, B. (2009). Emergence of global shape processing continues through adolescence. Child Development, 80, 162–177.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Simmons, D. R., Robertson, A. E., McKay, L. S., Toal, E., McAleer, P., & Pollick, F. E. (2009). Vision in autism spectrum disorders. Vision Research, 49, 2705–2739.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Skuse, D., Warrington, R., Bishop, D., Chowdhury, U., Lau, J., Mandy, W., & Place, M. (2004). The developmental, dimensional and diagnostic interview (3di): A novel computerized assessment for autism spectrum disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43, 548–558.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snodgrass, J. G., & Vanderwart, M. (1980). A standardized set of 260: Norms for name agreement, image agreement, familiarity, and visual complexity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Learning and Memory, 6, 174–215.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spencer, J., O’Brien, J., Riggs, K., Braddick, O., Atkinson, J., & Wattam-Bell, J. (2000). Motion processing in autism: Evidence for a dorsal stream deficiency. NeuroReport, 11, 2765–2767.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tibber, M. S., Kelly, M., Jansari, A., Dakin, S. C., & Shepherd, A. J. (2014). An inability to exclude visual noise in migraine. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science. doi:10.1167/iovs.14-13877.

    Google Scholar 

  • Torfs, K., Panis, S., & Wagemans, J. (2010). Identification of fragmented object outlines: A dynamic interplay between different component processes. Visual Cognition, 18, 1133–1164.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsatsanis, K. D., Noens, I. L. J., Illman, C. L., Pauls, D. L., Volkmar, F. R., Schultz, R. T., & Klin, A. (2011). Managing complexity: Impact of organization and processing style on nonverbal memory in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41, 135–147.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Cruys, S., Evers, K., Van der Hallen, R., Van Eylen, L., Boets, B., de-Wit, L., & Wagemans, J. (2014). Precise minds in uncertain worlds: Predictive coding in autism. Psychological Review, 121, 649–675.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Van der Hallen, R., Evers, K., Brewaeys, K., Van den Noortgate, W., & Wagemans, J. (2015). Global processing takes time: A meta-analysis on local-global visual processing in ASD. Psychological Bulletin, 141, 549–573.

  • Van Eylen, L., Boets, B., Steyaert, J., Wagemans, J., & Noens, I. (2015). Executive functioning in autism spectrum disorders: Influence of task and sample characteristics and relation to symptom severity. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. doi:10.1007/s00787-015-0689-1.

  • Wagemans, J., De Winter, J., Op de Beeck, H., Ploeger, A., Beckers, T., & Vanroose, P. (2008). Identification of everyday objects on the basis of silhouette and outline versions. Perception, 37, 207–244.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wagemans, J., Elder, J. H., Kubovy, M., Palmer, S. E., Peterson, M. A., Singh, M., & von der Heydt, R. (2012). A century of Gestalt psychology in visual perception: I. Perceptual grouping and figure-ground organization. Psychological Bulletin, 138(6), 1172–1217.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wechsler, D. (2005). WAIS-III-NL Wechsler adult intelligence test—III. Afname en scoringshandleiding. Lisse: Swets Test Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, D. L., Goldstein, G., & Minshew, N. J. (2006). Neuropsychologic functioning in children with autism: Further evidence for disordered complex information-processing. Child Neuropsychology, 12, 279–298.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe, J. M. (1998). Visual search. In H. Pashler (Ed.), Attention (pp. 13–73). Hove: Psychology Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Lien Van Eylen was a doctoral and Bart Boets is a post-doctoral research fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO). Additionally, the research was funded by a fellowship from the Marguerite-Marie Delacroix to Lien Van Eylen and a grant from the Research Council of KU Leuven (IDO/08/013) to Jean Steyaert, Johan Wagemans, and Ilse Noens. We thank all participants for participating, and all master students as well as Anouk Verhappen for their assistance in data collection and scoring.

Author contribution

LVE conceptualized the study design, programmed the computerized tasks, conducted and supervised the data collection, performed the data-analyses and interpretation, and drafted the manuscript. All other authors made substantial contributions to conception and design. BB provided the script for the Coherent Motion task and helped with adjusting it for the currect study. JW suggested to use the Fragmented Object Outlines task. All authors also critically revised the manuscript, provided feedback and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven, Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32, Box 3765, 3000, Louvain, Belgium

    Lien Van Eylen & Ilse Noens

  2. Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium

    Lien Van Eylen, Bart Boets, Jean Steyaert, Johan Wagemans & Ilse Noens

  3. Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC-KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium

    Bart Boets & Jean Steyaert

  4. Department of Clinical Genetics, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jean Steyaert

  5. Laboratory of Experimental Psychology, KU Leuven, Louvain, Belgium

    Johan Wagemans

  6. Psychiatric and Neurodevelopmental Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Ilse Noens

Authors
  1. Lien Van Eylen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bart Boets
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jean Steyaert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Johan Wagemans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Ilse Noens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lien Van Eylen.

Ethics declarations

Ethical standard

The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee of the University Hospitals Leuven and the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the KU Leuven and was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from the participants’ parents and from participants aged 16 years or older, prior to their inclusion in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Appendix

Appendix

See Table 6.

Table 6 Characteristics of all matched subsamples
Full size table

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Van Eylen, L., Boets, B., Steyaert, J. et al. Local and Global Visual Processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders: Influence of Task and Sample Characteristics and Relation to Symptom Severity. J Autism Dev Disord 48, 1359–1381 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2526-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2526-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation