Ashwin Emma, Ashwin Chris, Rhydderch Danielle, Howells Jessica, Baron-Cohen Simon
Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Douglas House, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Biol Psychiatry. 2009 Jan 1;65(1):17-21. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2008.06.012. Epub 2008 Jul 23.
Anecdotal accounts of sensory hypersensitivity in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have been noted since the first reports of the condition. Over time, empirical evidence has supported the notion that those with ASC have superior visual abilities compared with control subjects. However, it remains unclear whether these abilities are specifically the result of differences in sensory thresholds (low-level processing), rather than higher-level cognitive processes.
This study investigates visual threshold in n = 15 individuals with ASC and n = 15 individuals without ASC, using a standardized optometric test, the Freiburg Visual Acuity and Contrast Test, to investigate basic low-level visual acuity.
Individuals with ASC have significantly better visual acuity (20:7) compared with control subjects (20:13)-acuity so superior that it lies in the region reported for birds of prey.
The results of this study suggest that inclusion of sensory hypersensitivity in the diagnostic criteria for ASC may be warranted and that basic standardized tests of sensory thresholds may inform causal theories of ASC.
自首次报道自闭症谱系障碍（ASC）以来，就有关于该病症个体感觉超敏的轶事记录。随着时间的推移，实证证据支持了这样一种观点，即与对照组相比，患有ASC的个体具有卓越的视觉能力。然而，尚不清楚这些能力是否具体是感觉阈值差异（低水平加工）的结果，而非更高水平认知过程的结果。
本研究使用标准化验光测试——弗莱堡视力与对比度测试，对15名患有ASC的个体和15名未患ASC的个体进行视觉阈值调查，以研究基本的低水平视力。
与对照组（20:13）相比，患有ASC的个体视力显著更好（20:7）——其视力如此卓越，处于报道的猛禽视力范围内。
本研究结果表明，将感觉超敏纳入ASC的诊断标准可能是有必要的，并且感觉阈值的基本标准化测试可能为ASC的因果理论提供依据。
