Atypical Social Rank Recognition in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Sci Rep. 2019 Oct 30;9(1):15657. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-52211-8.

Abstract

Social animals, including humans, structure social groups where social hierarchy exists. Recognizing social rank of other group members is a crucial ability to subsist in such environments. Here we show preliminary evidence with a relatively small number of samples that children with autism spectrum disorder, a neurodevelopmental disorder involving social dysfunction, exhibit atypical, and more robust recognition of social rank than normal children, which may be developed to compensate deficits of the neural systems processing social information.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Optical Illusions
  • Social Behavior*