Binocular rivalry in autistic and socially anxious adults

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Sarah Kamhout, Brigham Young University; Joshua M Olivier, Brigham Young University; Jarom Morris, Brigham Young University; Hayden R Brimhall, Brigham Young University; Braeden L Black, Brigham Young University; Terisa P Gabrielsen, Brigham Young University; Mikle South, Emory University; Rebecca A Lundwall, Brigham Young University; Jared A Nielsen, Brigham Young University
• Language: English
• Date: 2023-06-28
• Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2023 Kamhout, Olivier, Morris, Brimhall, Black, Gabrielsen, South, Lundwall and Nielsen.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1181797
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
• Volume: 14
• Start Page: 1181797
• End Page: 1181797
• Grant/Funding Information: We would like to thank donors for the following funding, without which our research would not be possible: The Honors Office at Brigham Young University (BYU) for funding to SK; Experiential Learning at Brigham Young University for funding to JO; Inter-Disciplinary Research Origination Award program at BYU for funding to JN, TG, MS, and RL; a Mentoring Environment Grant from BYU for funding to RL; and the Burnham Family Foundation for funding to RL.
• Keywords: ATTENTIONAL BIAS; Psychiatry; switch rates; Science & Technology; SPECTRUM QUOTIENT AQ; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; THREAT; autism; VISUAL CONSCIOUSNESS; social anxiousness; MODEL; binocular rivalry; social anxiety; ANXIETY DISORDER; PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES; EXCITATION/INHIBITION; FACES; RELIABILITY
• Research Categories: Biology, Neuroscience; Psychology, Physiological

Abstract

Background: Social anxiousness is a pervasive symptom in both social anxiety disorder and autism spectrum conditions. Binocular rivalry, which occurs when different images are presented to each eye, has been used to explore how visual and cognitive processing differs across various clinical diagnoses. Previous studies have separately explored whether individuals with autism or anxiety experience binocular rivalry in ways that are different from neurotypical individuals. Methods: We applied rivalry paradigms that are similar to those used in previous studies of autism and general anxiety to individuals experiencing symptoms of social anxiousness at clinical or subclinical levels. We also incorporated rivalrous stimuli featuring neutral and emotional facial valances to explore potential overlap of social processing components in social anxiety and autism. Results: We hypothesized that higher levels of social anxiousness would increase binocular rivalry switch rates and that higher levels of autistic traits would decrease switch rates. However, stimulus condition did not affect switch rates in either diagnostic group, and switch rate was not significantly predictive of dimensional measures of either autism or social anxiety. Discussion: This may suggest a common mechanism for atypical visual cognition styles previously associated with social anxiety and autism. Alternatively, differences in switch rates may only emerge at higher trait levels than reported by the participants in our studies. Furthermore, these findings may be influenced by sex differences in our unique sample.