The brain’s ability to integrate auditory and visual information is essential for communication and social interactions, both of which are particularly impaired in individuals with autism.
The aim of this study was to investigate the electrophysiological patterns of auditory–visual interactions during passive perception in autistic children.
ERPs were recorded in response to auditory (A), visual (V) and auditory-visual (AV) stimuli in two age-groups of children with autism: 5- to 10-year-olds (n=9) and 11- to 15-year-olds (n=9). These were compared to the responses of 18 age-matched controls. Auditory-visual interactions were estimated using the additive model. The significance of [AV – (A+V)] amplitude was tested with Student’s t tests, and topographical analyses were performed using scalp potential and current density mapping.
Autistic children’s unisensory responses were overall preserved and not modulated in the bimodal condition, contrary to those of controls. Moreover, interaction effects were observed in non-sensory-specific areas with the lateralization reversed in autistic compared to typically developing children. This pattern was found in both age groups, underlying the robustness of the effects.
These findings provide evidence for anomalous cross-modal interactions in children with autism.