Behavioral studies show perceptual overstability in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the neural mechanisms by which such sensory symptoms can coexist and often correlate with seemingly separate core symptoms remain unknown. Here, we have identified such a key neuroanatomical substrate. We have revealed that overstable sensory perception of individuals with ASD is linked with their cognitive rigidity, a part of core restricted, repetitive behavior symptoms, and such a behavioral link is underpinned by a smaller gray matter volume in the posterior superior parietal lobule in autism. These findings uncover a key neuroanatomical mediator of autistic perceptual and cognitive inflexibility and would ignite future studies on how the core symptoms of ASD interact with its unique sensory perception.
This case–control study has found a behavioral association between overly stable visual perception and cognitive rigidity in high-functioning adults with ASD. Moreover, we have identified the pSPL (posterior superior parietal lobule) as one of the major neuroanatomical bases supporting this behavioral association. These findings should lead to future studies on how the ASD core symptoms interact with perceptual difficulties experienced by individuals with autism, which will help us to comprehensively understand the cognitive and behavioral styles of this disorder.
https://www.jneurosci.org/content/39/33/6540
