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Viewing Social Scenes: A Visual Scan-Path Study Comparing Fragile X Syndrome and Williams Syndrome

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Abstract

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) and Williams syndrome (WS) are both genetic disorders which present with similar cognitive-behavioral problems, but distinct social phenotypes. Despite these social differences both syndromes display poor social relations which may result from abnormal social processing. This study aimed to manipulate the location of socially salient information within scenes to investigate the visual attentional mechanisms of: capture, disengagement, and/or general engagement. Findings revealed that individuals with FXS avoid social information presented centrally, at least initially. The WS findings, on the other hand, provided some evidence that difficulties with attentional disengagement, rather than attentional capture, may play a role in the WS social phenotype. These findings are discussed in relation to the distinct social phenotypes of these two disorders.

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Notes

  1. Separate CA- and MA-matched control groups were initially recruited for the FXS and WS groups due to sporadic recruitment of clinical participants. Fourteen controls were individually matched to FXS participants on sex and CA (M = 23.81 years, SD = 12.44, p = 0.856), and 14 matched on sex and MA (M = 9.51 years, SD = 3.64, p = 0.564). Likewise, 14 controls were individually matched to WS participants on sex and CA (M = 22.53 years, SD = 8.66, p = 0.916), 14 on sex and MA (M = 7.84 years, SD = 1.66, p = 0.924). Ultimately, the FXS and WS groups were well matched on both CA and MA, so separate control groups were not required. As such, controls were combined to increase power and to allow for a direct comparison across the four groups.

  2. Images used in the current study included: central: 2396, 2398, 2480, 2560, 2593, 2745, 2749, 5875, 9913; non-central: 2272, 2299, 2393, 2575, 2579, 2590, 2594, 2598, 7550.

  3. To ensure that the imbalanced gender ratio was not affecting the results, a univariate ANCOVA was conducted with gender as a covariate. While the significance value was reduced, the analysis remained significant [F(3, 79) = 2.73, p = 0.049, η2 = 0.094].

  4. Again, to investigate the effect of gender on the results, the analysis was re-run with gender as a covariate. The pattern of results remained the same, and in particular the Group by Stimulus Set interaction [F (3, 79) = 5.37, p = 0.002, η2 = 0.17].

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Acknowledgments

Our thanks go to all the participants and their families for their time and enthusiasm. We would also like to thank the Fragile X Association of Australia and Hunter Genetics at Hunter New England Health for their support, as well as Samantha Baggott and Alan Taylor for their helpful suggestions with regards to content and statistics.

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  1. Department of Cognitive Science, ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Tracey A. Williams, Melanie A. Porter & Robyn Langdon

  2. Department of Psychology, ARC Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia

    Tracey A. Williams & Melanie A. Porter

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  1. Tracey A. Williams
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Correspondence to Tracey A. Williams.

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Williams, T.A., Porter, M.A. & Langdon, R. Viewing Social Scenes: A Visual Scan-Path Study Comparing Fragile X Syndrome and Williams Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 43, 1880–1894 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1737-z

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