Use of online vision for grip configuration of prehension movements in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract

We investigated how online vision affects kinematics properties of reach-to-grasp movements in adolescents with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), compared to typically developing (TD) peers. Participants, wearing liquid crystal shutter goggles, reached for and grasped a cylinder and lifted it around 5 cm. Two visual conditions were tested: Full vision (FV) condition (the goggles remained transparent during the movement) and no vision (NV) condition (the goggles closed 0 ms after movement initiation). The two visual conditions were alternated with each trial in one experimental session (Alternated condition), or each condition was blocked in the session (Blocked condition). The ASD participants showed larger peak grip aperture difference between NV and FV conditions in the Blocked condition than the Alternated one, which was similar to the TDs’ grip configuration. The ASD also showed larger temporal difference between grasp end and lifting initiation in the Blocked condition, suggesting difficulties in organizing action chain.