Date Approved

7-29-2014

Date Posted

11-4-2014

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department or School

Psychology

Committee Member

Renee Lajiness-O’Neill, PhD, Chair

Committee Member

Jin Bo, PhD

Committee Member

Alissa Huth-Bocks, PhD

Committee Member

Elise Hodges, PhD

Abstract

Much research to date has been devoted to understanding the neurocognitive abnormalities characteristic of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Abnormalities in visual attention are particularly notable in ASD and have the potential to inform an understanding of the aberrant neural networks underlying this disorder. The current study utilized a model integrating components of both a two-stage model of perceptual binding and Posner's model of attention in order to provide a coherent account of previous findings of both enhanced and impaired visual attention abilities in ASD. To investigate a potential deficit in attention shifting underlying a variety of observed attentional abnormalities in ASD, the present study employed experimental paradigms requiring attentional shifting at two levels of visual information processing. Aims of the current study were (1) to investigate a general deficit in shifting attention at the level of both preattention and focused attention in ASD as compared to age- and gender-matched NT controls, as measured by both a visual search task with a dimensional shift component and a Navon-type letter task requiring participants to shift attention between global and local levels of a visual stimulus; and (2) to investigate the degree to which deficits in attention shifting as measured by these tasks in ASD as compared to age- and gender-matched NT are related to social functioning. Results were not consistent with a general deficit in attention shifting, but rather showed a qualitatively similar shifting response in ASD and neurotypicals. Preliminary support was found for a relationship between measures of social functioning and attention shifting at the level of both preattention and focused attention. Hypothesized relationships with underlying neural networks and directions for future research are discussed.

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