Eye Contact
Eye contact triggers threat response in autistics
By Alex Plank on March 8, 2005
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin have discovered that in autistics, direct eye contact leads to increased activity in the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with 'fight or flight' responses.Read the original article from Scientific American here.
Just can’t face it: Why kids with autism may avoid eye contact
By Alex Plank on March 8, 2005
Brain tests at the University of Wisconsin-Madison suggest that children with autism shy from eye contact because they perceive even the most familiar face as an uncomfortable threat. The work deepens understanding of an autistic brain's function and may one day inform new treatment approaches and augment how teachers interact with their autistic students.
