Superior Visual Analysis and Imagery in an Autistic Child with Drawing Talent

Abstract

Two opposing theories have been proposed to account for the strong visuospatial performance often seen in high-functioning individuals with autism. According to the weak central coherence account, individuals with autism show a local processing bias. They have a superior grasp of the local details of a visual display but fail to grasp global aspects of the display (Happé & Frith, 2006). According to the enhanced perceptual functioning account, individuals with autism have superior local processing as well as intact global processing (Mottron & Burack, 2001). We report a case study of J.G., a 10-year-old child of normal intelligence diagnosed with autism. He experienced expressive language delay, but showed special talents in both drawing and visual imagery. Our tests revealed that J.G. had superior local but poor global processing. This pattern of performance provides stronger support for weak central coherence than for enhanced perceptual functioning.