Relative Complexity in Repetitive Structure and Visual Preference for Geometric Figures in Autistic Individuals: A Pilot Study

PURPOSE: The effects of repetitiveness in geometric figures on the preferences of autistic persons or whether such preferences for repetitive patterns are associated with local processing abilities, are unclear. This study investigated two potential mechanisms underlying the preference of autistic persons for geometric figures: (1) a preference for repetitive visual information and (2) a tendency for local processing superiority. METHODS: An eye-tracking device was used to record gaze behavior in 20 autistic persons and 19 neurotypical participants as they viewed pairs of geometric figures that varied in the number of repetitive elements and systematically in relative visual complexity. We analyzed participants’ bias toward fixating longer on the more complex figure of a given pair. Local processing superiority was measured using the Attention to Detail subscale scores of the Autism Spectrum Quotient. RESULTS: Autistic participants consistently fixated longer on figures with more repetitive patterns for each pair when the pair’s relative difference in complexity was large, whereas neurotypical participants showed no such preference. No significant association was found between gaze bias and scores of the Attention to Detail subscale. CONCLUSION: Autistic participants’ preference for geometric figures is primarily driven by an affinity for repetitive visual information. However, the role of local processing superiority remains unclear and warrants further investigation.