Comparative eye-tracking analysis of visual behavior of normal developing and autistic children in response to human faces and emotional expressions

Purpose Autism is a prevalent childhood neurodevelopmental condition with a high hereditary likelihood, and it manifests as a clinical syndrome with varying impairments in language and social behavior as well as the existence of constrictive interests and repetitive behaviors. It is essential for both early diagnosis and intervention to comprehend how autistic people behave visually when exposed to human facial expressions and emotions. The purpose of this study is to investigate how autistic individuals visually respond to human facial expressions and emotions, with the aim of supporting early diagnosis and intervention. Design/methodology/approach In this eye-tracking study, children from two different groups neurotypical (NT) children and autistic (AP) children – were compared in terms of their visual behavior. The authors showed them pictures of people with faces placed in the center, on the left and on the right of the stimuli to gauge how they were focusing on them. The study used eye-tracking technology to accurately capture and examine their eye gaze movements. Furthermore, the study investigated their reactions to sad emotions by showing dynamic stimuli with gradual changes in neutral to sad facial expressions, encompassing both male and female faces. Findings The research showed that when children with NT and AP were exposed to scenarios with human faces, there were substantial differences in their visual behavior. Notably, in contrast to NT children’s concentrated attention, AP children showed less interest in the facial region as seen by prolonged fixations on nonfacial locations. Furthermore, our examination of emotional responses revealed a major difference: NT children mainly focused on the eyes and mouth regions of sad faces, whereas AP children showed a lack of interest in these regions, frequently shifting their gaze from the facial stimuli. Originality/value This study offers important new understandings of the distinctive visual behavior displayed by autistic children when exposed to human faces and emotional stimuli. These findings have important implications for the early diagnosis and support of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Eye-tracking technology has the potential to be a diagnostic tool that can help identify and support children with ASD early on, ultimately increasing their quality of life and fostering the growth of key sociocognitive abilities. This study helps lay the groundwork for additional investigations and diagnostic models geared toward solving the difficulties faced by people with autism spectrum disorders.