Researchers from Japan Waseda University developed six pairs of 10-second videos showing predictable and unpredictable movements making geometric shapes. Each video pair was shown side-by-side in a preferential-looking paradigm to compare how study participants observe them.
These observations were then captured and analysed using an eye tracker system developed by Sweden-based company Tobii.
The findings, published in Scientific Reports, showed that children with possible autism "spent significantly more time observing predictable movements," suggesting that they may develop this behaviour over time.
Until this study, reasons behind children with autism spending more time observing repetitive movements and how this behaviour evolves over time were unclear. Present research has only focused on social communication deficits, such as eye contact and language delays.
This research suggested that identifying such a behaviour can serve as an early indicator of autism in children "as young as three years old."
It also suggested introducing a brief video observation task as part of routine developmental checkups for toddlers aged 18-36 months to help identify those at risk for ASD. The procedure could also be adopted for children under 18 months.
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