Sex differences in autistic behavior revealed by using individual differences in autistic traits

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26540061
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cognitive science
• Research Institution: Waseda University (2015-2016); The University of Tokyo (2014)
• Principal Investigator: Matsuyoshi Daisuke 早稲田大学, 理工学術院, 次席研究員(研究院講師) (70547017)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 発達障害 / 男女差 / 自閉症スペクトラム / 視線認知 / 顔記憶

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Despite the emphasis of autism spectrum disorders as a continuum of atypical social behaviors and the sexual heterogeneity of phenotypic manifestations, whether gaze and face processing constitutes an autistic endophenotype in both sexes remains unclear. Using the Autism-Spectrum Quotient and behavioral (face and gaze) tasks, here we examined whether sex-differential relationships between autistic traits and behavior might exist in a normal population. We found that a significant correlation between gaze perception and autistic traits was observed in male, but not female participants. In addition, correlations were not found for low-level geometry and face recognition/memory tasks in both male and female, indicating the relationship is confined to gaze. Our findings suggest that direct-gaze perception may not constitute an autistic endophenotype in both sexes, and highlight the importance of sex differences when considering relationships between autistic traits and behaviors.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学