Perception And Autism Research Paper

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Perception plays a huge role in someone’s life. “When a distinction is made between sensation and perception, sensation is frequently identified as involving simple “elementary” processes that occur right at the beginning of a sensory system, as when light stimulates receptors in the eye. In contrast, perception is identified with complicated processes that involves higher-order mechanisms such as understanding and memory that involve activity in the brain” (Goldstein, 1980, p. 7). It is simply the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the five senses. Perception aids us to navigate through the world, avoid danger, make decisions, and prepare for action. This road begins outside of a human, with stimuli in the environment …show more content…

However, the pattern of brain abnormality is distinct because autism releases many perceptual and cognitive systems. Social deficits are commonly viewed as the primary characteristics of autism and or other neuropsychiatric disorders (p. 126). The current conceptualization of social deficits entails poor eye contact; a failure to develop peer relationships appropriate to their developmental level; abnormal emotional intonations in voice and speech; marked impairment in the use of multiple nonverbal behaviors such as eye-to-eye gaze, facial expression, body postures, and gestures to regulate social interaction; and failure to spontaneously seek to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with other people (p. 126). Although, not part of the current diagnostic criteria, evidence suggests that people who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have marked deficits in face perception. Recognition of individual faces is a fundamental part of interpersonal interactions and successful functioning within a social group. Children and adults have developed perceptual processes capable of distinguishing between faces. Faces may appear to be quite different from one another, features of …show more content…

Whereas normal infants move on from engrossing objects or activities to another, explore and play with toys, and seek pleasure and avoid pain. Most children with ASD have difficulty learning to engage in the give-and-take of every human interaction. In addition, they take longer to interpret what others are thinking and feeling as well as have problems seeing things from another person’s perspective. They may lack such understanding, which leaves them unable to predict or understand others people’s actions. As a result of brain malfunction, many children with ASD are highly attuned and sensitive to certain sounds, textures, taste, and smells. Some children find the feel of clothes touching their skin disturbing that they cannot focus on anything else. For others, a gentle hug may be overwhelming and cover their ears and scream at the sound of something loud. The brain of an individual with ASD appear unable to balance the sense appropriately. Children with ASD seem oblivious to extreme cold or pain, but reach hysterically to things that would not bother other children (Staff, P.T., 2011). “The study of autism provides insight into the brain basis of the complex social interactions that are typical of human beings, since a profound impairment in social interactions is the hallmark of autistic disorders”

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