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Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are associated with anomalies in time perception. In a perceptual simultaneity task, individuals with ASD demonstrate superior performance compared to typically developing (TD) controls. γ-activity, a robust marker of visual processing, is reportedly altered in ASD in response to a wide variety of tasks and these differences may be related to superior performance in perceptual simultaneity. Using time-frequency analysis, we assessed evoked γ-band phase-locking in magnetoencephalographic recordings of 16 ASD individuals and 17 age-matched TD controls. Individuals judged whether presented visual stimuli were simultaneous or asynchronous. We identified left frontal γ-activity in ASD, which was associated with a reduced perception of simultaneity. Where feature binding was observed at a neurophysiological level in parieto-occipital cortices in ASD in apparent simultaneity (asynchronous stimuli with short delay between them), this did not predict the correct behavioural outcome. These findings suggest distinct γ profiles in ASD associated with the perception of simultaneity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.neulet.2017.11.045

Type

Journal article

Journal

Neurosci Lett

Publication Date

05/02/2018

Volume

665

Pages

86 - 91

Keywords

Autism spectrum disorder, Evoked phase-locked γ-oscillations, Magnetoencephalography, Perceptual simultaneity, Adolescent, Adult, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Evoked Potentials, Female, Humans, Magnetoencephalography, Male, Occipital Lobe, Temporal Lobe, Time Perception, Young Adult