Altered interactive dynamics of gaze behavior during face-to-face interaction in autistic individuals: a dual eye-tracking study / Bastian SCHILLER ; Antonia VEHLEN ; Kathrin NICKEL ; Ludger TEBARTZ VAN ELST ; Gregor DOMES ; Markus HEINRICHS in Molecular Autism, 16 (2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 16 (2025) . - 12 Titre : Altered interactive dynamics of gaze behavior during face-to-face interaction in autistic individuals: a dual eye-tracking study Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Bastian SCHILLER, Auteur ; Antonia VEHLEN, Auteur ; Kathrin NICKEL, Auteur ; Ludger TEBARTZ VAN ELST, Auteur ; Gregor DOMES, Auteur ; Markus HEINRICHS, Auteur Article en page(s) : 12 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Humans  Male  Female  Eye-Tracking Technology  Autistic Disorder/physiopathology/psychology  Fixation, Ocular  Adult  Young Adult  Social Interaction  Adolescent  Eye Movements  Case-Control Studies  Autism spectrum  Dual eye-tracking  Naturalistic gaze behavior  Social interaction  the University of Freiburg approved this study (reference number: EK-Freiburg:  439/15). All participants gave written informed consent before the experiment  took place. Autism-related language preferences: The authors of this paper aimed  to use terminology that aligns with the language preferences of autistic adults,  referring to [93]. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests:  The authors declare no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Previous eye-tracking research on autistic individuals has mostly examined the gaze behavior of one individual in response to social stimuli presented on a computer screen, suggesting that there is atypical gaze behavior. However, it is unknown how these findings translate to the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior during "face-to-face" encounters between two individuals. Only by analyzing the gaze behaviour of both interaction partners is it possible to determine the frequency of actual eye-contact and who initiates or breaks such periods of mutual eye gaze. The knowledge gained from this analysis could contribute to theorizing about the psychological mechanisms (e.g., gaze avoidance vs. gaze indifference) underlying autism. METHODS: The present study applied a novel dual eye-tracking setup that allows the assessment and analysis of the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior regarding (i) mutual eye gaze (i.e., eye contact), (ii) initiations, and (iii) break-ups of eye contact. Participants (37 autistic individuals, 37 age- and IQ-matched neurotypical individuals) performed a semi-standardized social interaction (i.e., Fast Friends Procedure) with a confederate (trained to interact in a standardized manner). RESULTS: Eye contact was reduced in interactions involving autistic individuals. Additional analyses revealed that this reduction was primarily due to the more frequent breaking of eye contact by these individuals. We also found considerable heterogeneity among autistic individuals, with atypical gaze behavior present in only about half of the sample. LIMITATIONS: Further research is required to determine whether the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior observed in this dual eye-tracking setup can be generalized to real-world situations. Future studies could also include arousal-related physiological measures. CONCLUSIONS: By tracking the gaze behavior of two interacting individuals, this study reveals specific atypicalities in the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior in a subset of autistic individuals, potentially informing diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. More broadly, our study highlights the added value of dual eye-tracking in elucidating the interactive nature of social encounters in both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered as a clinical trial before starting data collection ( https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00018957 ; Registration Date: 12/17/2019). En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-025-00645-5 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=555 [article] Altered interactive dynamics of gaze behavior during face-to-face interaction in autistic individuals: a dual eye-tracking study [texte imprimé] / Bastian SCHILLER, Auteur ; Antonia VEHLEN, Auteur ; Kathrin NICKEL, Auteur ; Ludger TEBARTZ VAN ELST, Auteur ; Gregor DOMES, Auteur ; Markus HEINRICHS, Auteur . - 12. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 16 (2025) . - 12 Mots-clés : Humans  Male  Female  Eye-Tracking Technology  Autistic Disorder/physiopathology/psychology  Fixation, Ocular  Adult  Young Adult  Social Interaction  Adolescent  Eye Movements  Case-Control Studies  Autism spectrum  Dual eye-tracking  Naturalistic gaze behavior  Social interaction  the University of Freiburg approved this study (reference number: EK-Freiburg:  439/15). All participants gave written informed consent before the experiment  took place. Autism-related language preferences: The authors of this paper aimed  to use terminology that aligns with the language preferences of autistic adults,  referring to [93]. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests:  The authors declare no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Previous eye-tracking research on autistic individuals has mostly examined the gaze behavior of one individual in response to social stimuli presented on a computer screen, suggesting that there is atypical gaze behavior. However, it is unknown how these findings translate to the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior during "face-to-face" encounters between two individuals. Only by analyzing the gaze behaviour of both interaction partners is it possible to determine the frequency of actual eye-contact and who initiates or breaks such periods of mutual eye gaze. The knowledge gained from this analysis could contribute to theorizing about the psychological mechanisms (e.g., gaze avoidance vs. gaze indifference) underlying autism. METHODS: The present study applied a novel dual eye-tracking setup that allows the assessment and analysis of the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior regarding (i) mutual eye gaze (i.e., eye contact), (ii) initiations, and (iii) break-ups of eye contact. Participants (37 autistic individuals, 37 age- and IQ-matched neurotypical individuals) performed a semi-standardized social interaction (i.e., Fast Friends Procedure) with a confederate (trained to interact in a standardized manner). RESULTS: Eye contact was reduced in interactions involving autistic individuals. Additional analyses revealed that this reduction was primarily due to the more frequent breaking of eye contact by these individuals. We also found considerable heterogeneity among autistic individuals, with atypical gaze behavior present in only about half of the sample. LIMITATIONS: Further research is required to determine whether the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior observed in this dual eye-tracking setup can be generalized to real-world situations. Future studies could also include arousal-related physiological measures. CONCLUSIONS: By tracking the gaze behavior of two interacting individuals, this study reveals specific atypicalities in the interactive dynamics of gaze behavior in a subset of autistic individuals, potentially informing diagnostic and therapeutic decisions. More broadly, our study highlights the added value of dual eye-tracking in elucidating the interactive nature of social encounters in both neurodiverse and neurotypical individuals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered as a clinical trial before starting data collection ( https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00018957 ; Registration Date: 12/17/2019). En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-025-00645-5 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=555

Brain structure in triple X syndrome: regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adult women with 47,XXX karyotype / Gregor DOMES in Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 17 (2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders > 17 (2025) Titre : Brain structure in triple X syndrome: regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adult women with 47,XXX karyotype Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Gregor DOMES, Auteur ; Marie-Anne CROYÉ, Auteur ; Petra FREILINGER, Auteur ; Andreas BOHLSCHEID, Auteur ; Winfried A. WILLINEK, Auteur ; Jobst MEYER, Auteur Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Humans  Female  Adult  Gray Matter/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  Young Adult  Adolescent  Middle Aged  Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Brain/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Trisomy/pathology  Cerebral Cortex/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Organ Size  Sex Chromosome Aberrations  Sex Chromosome Disorders/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Chromosomes, Human, X  47,xxx  Amygdala  Basal ganglia  Cerebellum  Hippocampus  Morphometry  Triple X syndrome  Trisomy X  authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval and consent to  participate: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of  Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the state medical  association Rhineland-Palatinate (#2022–16572). Participants gave  written-informed consent before participation. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Changes in the brain structure of women with Triple X syndrome (karyotype 47,XXX) have been described in a few studies to date, including reduced total brain volume and regional reductions in gray substance in cortical and subcortical areas. However, the empirical evidence from adults is very limited and group comparison on a voxel-wise basis for gray matter volume and cortical thickness is still missing. METHODS: Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM), we investigated regional gray matter changes in a sample of n = 20 adult women (aged 18-49 years) with 47,XXX karyotype using T1-weighted 3T MRI scans. RESULTS: Compared to an age- and education-matched control group (and controlled for differences in total intracranial volume), the VBM revealed decreased regional gray matter volumes in the hippocampus, amygdala, parts of the basal ganglia, insula, prefrontal areas and cerebellum. To a lesser extent, we also noted specific reductions in cortical thickness in a smaller part of those regions. CONCLUSION: The observed network is significantly involved in the processing of cognitive, affective, and social stimuli and might be a potential neuronal correlate of the autism-like social-cognitive problems described in 47,XXX in the literature. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09608-6 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=576 [article] Brain structure in triple X syndrome: regional gray matter volume and cortical thickness in adult women with 47,XXX karyotype [texte imprimé] / Gregor DOMES, Auteur ; Marie-Anne CROYÉ, Auteur ; Petra FREILINGER, Auteur ; Andreas BOHLSCHEID, Auteur ; Winfried A. WILLINEK, Auteur ; Jobst MEYER, Auteur. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders > 17 (2025) Mots-clés : Humans  Female  Adult  Gray Matter/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Magnetic Resonance Imaging  Young Adult  Adolescent  Middle Aged  Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Brain/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Trisomy/pathology  Cerebral Cortex/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Organ Size  Sex Chromosome Aberrations  Sex Chromosome Disorders/pathology/diagnostic imaging  Chromosomes, Human, X  47,xxx  Amygdala  Basal ganglia  Cerebellum  Hippocampus  Morphometry  Triple X syndrome  Trisomy X  authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval and consent to  participate: The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of  Helsinki. The protocol was approved by the ethics committee of the state medical  association Rhineland-Palatinate (#2022–16572). Participants gave  written-informed consent before participation. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Changes in the brain structure of women with Triple X syndrome (karyotype 47,XXX) have been described in a few studies to date, including reduced total brain volume and regional reductions in gray substance in cortical and subcortical areas. However, the empirical evidence from adults is very limited and group comparison on a voxel-wise basis for gray matter volume and cortical thickness is still missing. METHODS: Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and surface-based morphometry (SBM), we investigated regional gray matter changes in a sample of n = 20 adult women (aged 18-49 years) with 47,XXX karyotype using T1-weighted 3T MRI scans. RESULTS: Compared to an age- and education-matched control group (and controlled for differences in total intracranial volume), the VBM revealed decreased regional gray matter volumes in the hippocampus, amygdala, parts of the basal ganglia, insula, prefrontal areas and cerebellum. To a lesser extent, we also noted specific reductions in cortical thickness in a smaller part of those regions. CONCLUSION: The observed network is significantly involved in the processing of cognitive, affective, and social stimuli and might be a potential neuronal correlate of the autism-like social-cognitive problems described in 47,XXX in the literature. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09608-6 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=576

Elevated autistic traits and social anxiety, and reduced empathy in adult women with triple X syndrome / Marie-Anne CROYÉ in Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 17 (2025)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders > 17 (2025) Titre : Elevated autistic traits and social anxiety, and reduced empathy in adult women with triple X syndrome Type de document : texte imprimé Auteurs : Marie-Anne CROYÉ, Auteur ; Petra FREILINGER, Auteur ; Hendrik JÃœRGENLIMKE, Auteur ; Gregor DOMES, Auteur ; Jobst MEYER, Auteur Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Humans  Female  Adult  Empathy/physiology  Anxiety/psychology  Young Adult  Autistic Disorder/psychology  Chromosomes, Human, X  Adaptation, Psychological  Case-Control Studies  Sex Chromosome Aberrations  Trisomy  Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development  47,xxx  Autistic traits  Chronic stress  Sex chromosome aneuploidy  Social anxiety  Social functioning  Somatization  Stress coping mechanisms  Triple X syndrome  Trisomy X  conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was  obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Trier (Ref. No. 30/2021).  All participants provided written informed consent prior to their participation.  Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare  no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Triple X syndrome (TXS, 47,XXX) is a sex chromosome aneuploidy affecting females. The condition is associated with cognitive, emotional, and social challenges. While prior research has primarily focused on children, the social and psychological profile of adult women with TXS remains understudied. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of these aspects in adult women with TXS compared to matched controls. METHODS: A cohort of 44 women with TXS (mean age 30.5 years) was compared to 50 age- and education-matched controls (mean age 29.7 years). Standardized assessments measured verbal IQ, psychological distress, chronic stress, emotion regulation, coping mechanisms, social anxiety, empathy, autistic traits, and personality traits. Group comparisons were conducted using ANOVAs and MANOVAs, with additional χ² tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: Depression and trait anxiety did not significantly differ between groups, though both groups exhibited notably high scores. However, a greater number of individuals in the TXS group reported elevated social anxiety and autistic traits, and reduced empathy. Moreover, there were indications of increased self-reported social tensions, personal distress, and somatization within the TXS group. No significant differences were found in personality traits, verbal IQ, chronic stress levels, and emotion regulation. Additionally, TXS participants tended to rely less on the maladaptive coping strategy of alcohol and cigarette consumption. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore autistic traits, social anxiety, and reduced empathy as significant challenges for adult women with TXS. While cognitive and emotional characteristics were largely comparable to those of age- and education-matched controls, the heightened social difficulties suggest a potential benefit of targeted interventions, such as social skills training, to support affected individuals. Longitudinal studies are essential to understand the long-term progression of these challenges and to develop effective therapeutic strategies. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09631-7 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=576 [article] Elevated autistic traits and social anxiety, and reduced empathy in adult women with triple X syndrome [texte imprimé] / Marie-Anne CROYÉ, Auteur ; Petra FREILINGER, Auteur ; Hendrik JÃœRGENLIMKE, Auteur ; Gregor DOMES, Auteur ; Jobst MEYER, Auteur. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders > 17 (2025) Mots-clés : Humans  Female  Adult  Empathy/physiology  Anxiety/psychology  Young Adult  Autistic Disorder/psychology  Chromosomes, Human, X  Adaptation, Psychological  Case-Control Studies  Sex Chromosome Aberrations  Trisomy  Sex Chromosome Disorders of Sex Development  47,xxx  Autistic traits  Chronic stress  Sex chromosome aneuploidy  Social anxiety  Social functioning  Somatization  Stress coping mechanisms  Triple X syndrome  Trisomy X  conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Ethical approval was  obtained from the Ethics Committee of the University of Trier (Ref. No. 30/2021).  All participants provided written informed consent prior to their participation.  Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare  no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Triple X syndrome (TXS, 47,XXX) is a sex chromosome aneuploidy affecting females. The condition is associated with cognitive, emotional, and social challenges. While prior research has primarily focused on children, the social and psychological profile of adult women with TXS remains understudied. This study aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of these aspects in adult women with TXS compared to matched controls. METHODS: A cohort of 44 women with TXS (mean age 30.5 years) was compared to 50 age- and education-matched controls (mean age 29.7 years). Standardized assessments measured verbal IQ, psychological distress, chronic stress, emotion regulation, coping mechanisms, social anxiety, empathy, autistic traits, and personality traits. Group comparisons were conducted using ANOVAs and MANOVAs, with additional χ² tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: Depression and trait anxiety did not significantly differ between groups, though both groups exhibited notably high scores. However, a greater number of individuals in the TXS group reported elevated social anxiety and autistic traits, and reduced empathy. Moreover, there were indications of increased self-reported social tensions, personal distress, and somatization within the TXS group. No significant differences were found in personality traits, verbal IQ, chronic stress levels, and emotion regulation. Additionally, TXS participants tended to rely less on the maladaptive coping strategy of alcohol and cigarette consumption. CONCLUSION: Our findings underscore autistic traits, social anxiety, and reduced empathy as significant challenges for adult women with TXS. While cognitive and emotional characteristics were largely comparable to those of age- and education-matched controls, the heightened social difficulties suggest a potential benefit of targeted interventions, such as social skills training, to support affected individuals. Longitudinal studies are essential to understand the long-term progression of these challenges and to develop effective therapeutic strategies. En ligne : https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s11689-025-09631-7 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=576

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