Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Williams syndrome: reduced orienting to other’s eyes in a hypersocial phenotype

Kleberg, Johan Lundin; Riby, Deborah; Fawcett, Christine; Bjorlin Avdic, Hanna; Frick, Matilda A.; Brocki, Karin C.; Hogstrom, Jens; Serlachius, Eva; Nordgren, Ann; Willfors, Charlotte

Williams syndrome: reduced orienting to other’s eyes in a hypersocial phenotype Thumbnail


Authors

Johan Lundin Kleberg

Christine Fawcett

Hanna Bjorlin Avdic

Matilda A. Frick

Karin C. Brocki

Jens Hogstrom

Eva Serlachius

Ann Nordgren

Charlotte Willfors



Abstract

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic condition associated with high sociability, intellectual disability, and social cognitive challenges. Attention to others’ eyes is crucial for social understanding. Orienting to, and from other’s eyes was studied in WS (n = 37, mean age = 23, age range 9–53). The WS group was compared to a typically developing comparison participants (n = 167) in stratified age groups from infancy to adulthood. Typically developing children and adults were quicker and more likely to orient to eyes than the mouth. This bias was absent in WS. The WS group had reduced peak saccadic velocities, indicating hypo-arousal. The current study indicates reduced orienting to others’ eyes in WS, which may affect social interaction skills.

Citation

Kleberg, J. L., Riby, D., Fawcett, C., Bjorlin Avdic, H., Frick, M. A., Brocki, K. C., …Willfors, C. (2023). Williams syndrome: reduced orienting to other’s eyes in a hypersocial phenotype. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 53, 2786–2797. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05563-6

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Mar 31, 2022
Online Publication Date Apr 20, 2022
Publication Date 2023-07
Deposit Date May 12, 2022
Publicly Available Date May 12, 2022
Journal Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Print ISSN 0162-3257
Electronic ISSN 1573-3432
Publisher Springer
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 53
Pages 2786–2797
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05563-6
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1208351

Files






You might also like



Downloadable Citations