Temporal parameters of communication in typically-developed individuals and individuals with autism spectrum disorder

Functional interpersonal communication can be operationalized as interpersonal synchrony. This dissertation examines another level of synchronization, the level of intrapersonal synchrony. Intrapersonal synchrony is defined as the temporal coordination of multimodal communication within individuals in social interaction. It is postulated that the mechanisms of intrapersonal synchrony are important for the measurement and possibly also the emergence of interpersonal synchrony. Intrapersonal synchrony is therefore relevant to better understand and describe communicative characteristics in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The dissertation comprises one theoretical and three empirical studies. These studies demonstrate i) that intrapersonal synchrony is produced differently in individuals with ASD, ii) that these characteristics can be attributed to domain-specific synchronization strategies in ASD, and iii) that the characteristics in the temporal production of multimodal communication behavior have different effects on the perception and reciprocal response of observers with and without ASD

Auditory feedback decreases timing variability for discontinuous and continuous motor tasks in autistic adults

IntroductionAutistic individuals demonstrate greater variability and timing error in their motor performance than neurotypical individuals, likely due at least in part to atypical cerebellar characteristics and connectivity. These motor difficulties may differentially affect discrete as opposed to continuous movements in autistic individuals. Augmented auditory feedback has the potential to aid motor timing and variability due to intact auditory-motor pathways in autism and high sensitivity in autistic individuals to auditory stimuli.MethodsThis experiment investigated whether there were differences in timing accuracy and variability in autistic adults as a function of task (discontinuous vs. continuous movements) and condition (augmented auditory feedback vs. no auditory feedback) in a synchronization-continuation paradigm. Ten autistic young adults aged 17–27 years of age completed the within-subjects study that involved drawing circles at 800 milliseconds intervals on a touch screen. In the discontinuous task, participants traced a series of discrete circles and paused at the top of each circle for at least 60 milliseconds. In the continuous task, participants traced the circles without pausing. Participants traced circles in either a non-auditory condition, or an auditory condition in which they heard a tone each time that they completed a circle drawing.ResultsParticipants had significantly better timing accuracy on the continuous timing task as opposed to the discontinuous task. Timing consistency was significantly higher for tasks performed with auditory feedback.DiscussionThis research reveals that motor difficulties in autistic individuals affect discrete timing tasks more than continuous tasks, and provides evidence that augmented auditory feedback may be able to mitigate some of the timing variability present in autistic persons’ movements. These results provide support for future investigation on the use of music-based therapies involving auditory feedback to address motor dysfunction in autistic individuals

Personality Expression in Body Motion Dynamics:Enactive, Embodied and Complex Systems Perspectives

We explored personality expression through body motion using enactive/complex systems perspectives. We invited 105 adults (aged 18-33, 70% women) to talk for 15-minutes about three self-referencing topics (introduction, bodily perception/sensory life, socio-emotional life). A video frame-by-frame differentiation method provided time-series to perform Recurrence Quantification Analysis (RQA), extracting four measures (Determinism/Entropy/Laminarity/MeanLine). Multilevel models linked Big-Five traits (IPIP-NEO-120) to embodied dynamics. Neuroticism predicted lower determinism and fluctuating dynamics when talking about bodily perception/sensory life and socioemotional life; less complexity and stability when talking about socioemotional life, and post-task negative affect. Extraversion predicted regular/deterministic dynamics when talking about bodily perception/sensory life. Conscientiousness predicted less deterministic and more variability. Agreeableness predicted low post-task negative affect. The results are discussed integrating enactive/complexity, and personality perspectives

INTRApersonal Synchrony as Constituent of INTERpersonal Synchrony and Its Relevance for Autism Spectrum Disorder

INTERpersonal synchrony leads to increased empathy, rapport and understanding, enabling successful human-human interactions and reciprocal bonding. Research shows that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit difficulties to INTERpersonally synchronize but underlying causes are yet unknown. In order to successfully synchronize with others, INTRApersonal synchronization of communicative signals appears to be a necessary prerequisite. We understand INTRApersonal synchrony as an implicit factor of INTERpersonal synchrony and therefore hypothesize that atypicalities of INTRApersonal synchrony may add to INTERpersonal synchrony problems in ASD and their interaction partners. In this perspective article, we first review evidence for INTERpersonal dissynchrony in ASD, with respect to different approaches and assessment methods. Second, we draft a theoretical conceptualization of INTRApersonal dissynchrony in ASD based on a temporal model of human interaction. We will outline literature indicating INTRApersonal dissynchrony in ASD, therefore highlighting findings of atypical timing functions and findings from clinical and behavioral studies that indicate peculiar motion patterns and communicative signal production in ASD. Third, we hypothesize that findings from these domains suggest an assessment and investigation of temporal parameters of social behavior in individuals with ASD. We will further propose specific goals of empirical approaches on INTRApersonal dissynchrony. Finally we present implications of research on INTRApersonal timing in ASD for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, what in our opinion warrants the increase of research efforts in this domain

Interacting with others: the role of Temporal Contingency and Motor Interpersonal Synchrony in Autism Spectrum Disorder and in Typical Development

openInterpersonal synchrony (IS) is the spontaneous rhythmic and temporal coordination of actions, emotions, thoughts, behavioural, neurological, and physiological process that occurs between two or more people. All the levels of IS appear to have a great impact on facilitating social interaction in the typical population (TD). The synchronization seems to be decreased or absents in the Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD), in which the social and communication difficulties are the main traits. The present work investigates Motor Interpersonal Synchrony throughout a meta-analysis of eleven dyadic studies on TD and ASD participants. The aim is to understand if ASD individuals display difficulties in synchronizing within a social context. Furthermore, an experimental paradigm tests if two aspects, the temporal contingency (the closeness between an action and the environmental answer) and presence of engaging and non-engaging social stimuli, interfere with the synchronization process and with the preference for social stimuli. This experimental paradigm involves TD and ASD children and adolescents. Finally, the clinical implications of the Interpersonal Synchrony, of Temporal contingency and Engagement are discussed