Motion processing in autism: evidence for a dorsal stream deficiency

We report that motion coherence thresholds in children with autism are sign ificantly higher than in matched controls. No corresponding difference in f orm coherence thresholds was found. We interpret this as a specific deficit in dorsal stream function in autism. To examine the possibility of a neura l basis for the perceptual and motor related abnormalities frequently cited in autism we tested 23 children diagnosed with autistic disorder, on two t asks specific to dorsal and ventral cortical stream functions. The results provide evidence that autistic individuals have a specific impairment in do rsal stream functioning. We conclude that autism may have common features w ith other developmental disorders and with early stages of normal developme nt, perhaps reflecting a greater vulnerability of the dorsal system. NeuroR eport 11:2765-2767 (C) 2000 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.