FINDINGS

Reduced attention effect in ventral occipital cortex contralateral to attended hemifield

Augmented attention effect in intraparietal cortex contralateral to suppressed hemifield

We've now found, using two separate methodologies and two separate subject groups, that the normal effect of visual spatial attention in occipital cortex contralateral to the attended hemifield is absent or severely reduced in autism.

We've also found, in the fMRI study, that with eye movements controlled, activation in intraparietal sulcus contralateral to the suppressed hemifield is augmented relative to normals.

`Functional Anatomy of Compensatory Processing in Autistic Attention: Complementary Roles of Selection and Suppression', Matthew Belmonte, 1 November 2002