Atypical Gaze Behavior in Children with High Functioning Autism During an Active Balance Task

Unusual gaze behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was reported very early in the literature.

The current study examined gaze behavior in children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children while performing an active balance task on the Wii balance board.

8 children (male) diagnosed with high-functioning ASD and 9 TD children (3 female, 6 male) were recruited for the study. Eye movements were recorded at 60 Hz during the soccer game on Wii balance board.

There was no significant difference in the game scores between the two groups (p > 0.05). However, evidence indicates differences in gaze behavior, particularly total fixation durations on the main area of interest (center AOI) (p < 0.05). While performing the active balance task, children with ASD spent less time looking at the center of the screen than typically developing children. Shorter fixation durations in ASD compared to the TD group could indicate how our ASD group had enhanced perceptual processing. The second possibility for shorter total fixation duration in ASD is that they are more scattered in their fixations.

Shorter fixation durations in children with ASD while performing the active balance task could be because of enhanced perceptual processing or a deficiency in their ability to plan. However, no advantage or disadvantage was observed in the Wii-fit game’s performance.