Attention in Autism

This study is currently recruiting teens from 13-17 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). We are doing this study to help better understand the differences in behavior, emotions, and learning in ASD. During some of the computer games in this study a special camera will track your eyes as they move across the screen. We will ask you to provide a genetic saliva sample by drooling into a tube. This study will allow us to learn more about the different types of experiences of those with ASD to help inform future therapy options. In this study you will be asked to visit our lab at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) 1-2 times for study visits. The first study visit will last about 1 hour and the second visit will last about 2 hours. Families can choose to complete visit 1 and 2 on the same day. Compensation is provided.

Inclusion (Adolescent):
13-17 Years old
Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Permission of a guardian informant who can also participate
Binocular vision correctable to 20-20
No gross motor deficit affecting dominant hand
Able to provide verbal assent

Exclusion (Adolescent):
TBI with loss of consciousness greater than 30 minutes
History of one or more seizures
Comparable IQ less than 70

Inclusion (Adult):
Individual is the legal guardian of the adolescent, not including adolescents who are wards of the state. (i.e. Social workers who are legal guardians cannot provide permission for this study)
Individual is willing and able to answer questions about the adolescent.

Exclusion (Adult):
Individual is not the legal guardian, or is acting as a guardian on behalf of the state (i.e. Social workers).

This study will involve a number of different tasks, questionnaires and surveys. Adolescents will complete surveys about interpreting ambiguous social situations, and about potential experiences of psychosis symptoms. Next they will complete a brief eye-tracking task, followed by a 10-part neurocognitive assessment, which will include a number of different tasks, activities, and games. Adolescents will also be asked to provide a saliva genetic sample by drooling into a test tube. These tasks will take approximately 2-3 hours to complete, and can be done in one visit, or this can be broken up into two shorter visits if desired. The adult participant will complete surveys about the adolescents mental and physical health, behavior, and social communication. These tasks will take about 30 minutes to complete.

Individuals living with autism are not the only group of patients who experience challenges with social relatedness and struggles with interpersonal relationships. Youths with autism and youths who are at-risk for later developing psychosis both share unusual thought content, challenges with social interaction, and stereotyped behaviors. Due to the overlap in symptoms and experiences common to both youths at-risk for development of psychosis and youths with autism the goal of this study is to understand how common are indicators associated with psychotic disorders as an alternative way of measuring social challenges for youth with autism. The indicators of interest for this study include delays in eye movements when tracking objects on a screen and genetic risk scores for autism and psychosis. This study will help us understand if these indicators are shared between psychosis and autism the way experiencing social challenges are shared between these conditions.