Neurodiversity in Gaze Patterns and Face Recognition: Individual Differences in Autistic Face Processing Fall Along the Continuum of Neurotypical Heterogeneity

Neurodiversity is an inclusive conceptualization of brain development which views divergent trajectories (such as those resulting in neurodevelopmental disorders) as a natural extension of variation in neurotypical development. Rather than perpetuating a deficit-based ideology, neurodiversity lays the groundwork for a more integrated approach to understanding the true heterogeneity present within the population. To date, the face processing literature focuses primarily on a dichotomous neurotypical “expert” and autistic “deficit” model, overshadowing the distinct variability in gaze patterns and behavioural performance across both populations. Bridging the clinical neurodiversity movement with the recent call for individualized approaches in the face processing field, the current research examines neurotypical and autistic face processing abilities from a neurodiversity perspective. First, findings from two studies conducted prior to the pandemic will be overviewed: Study 1 investigated individual differences in gaze patterns and face recognition abilities in a large sample (N = 103) of neurotypical adults; Study 2 extended these methods into a sample of autistic adults (n = 24) and age-, gender-, and IQ-matched neurotypical controls (n = 21). Second, the potential continuity of neurotypical and autistic performance will be explored by examining all participants (N = 148) along the same continuum. Collectively these results demonstrate a bias towards the left eye and nasion during face encoding which facilitated incidental, but not intentional, face recognition accuracy. Importantly, autistic gaze patterns and face recognition abilities fell within the neurotypical performance spectrum on all measures. Although biased towards the weaker ends of the continuums (e.g., less time spent looking at the left eye, lower face recognition accuracy), autistic adults’ performance was not clearly distinguishable from that of their neurotypical peers. These findings support a neurodiversity account for face processing research, signaling the need to move away from deficit-based frameworks and towards inclusive neurodiversity models.