Visual scanning preferences in low birth weight preterm infants

Abstract Introduction Few studies have used eye tracking as a screening tool for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in preterm infants. Objectives To evaluate fixation time on social and non-social figures and percentage of preterm babies who gazed at the images. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of 31 preterm infants born weighing ≤ 2,000 g in which eye gaze was evaluated at 6 months of corrected age. Six boards with social and non-social figures were projected on a computer screen, successively, evaluating time and percentage of preterm babies who gazed at each board. The Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) was answered at 18 months of corrected age. Results Preterm infants showed longer visual fixation time on social figures compared with non-social images, regardless of the position of the social figure on the board. Similar percentages of preterm infants gazed either at social or non-social figures, at social figures with a direct or an indirect look, and at the eyes or mouth of the social figures. No preterm infant screened positive on the M-CHAT. Conclusion At 6 months of corrected age, preterm infants show the ability to gaze in an eye-tracking test, with preference for social figures, suggesting that this tool could be useful as another screening instrument for ASD.

摘要与引言：目前少有研究将眼动追踪（eye tracking）作为早产儿自闭症谱系障碍（autism spectrum disorder, ASD）的筛查工具。
研究目的：评估早产儿对社会性与非社会性图形的注视时长，以及注视各类图像的早产儿占比。
研究方法：本研究为一项横断面研究，纳入31例出生体重≤2000g的早产儿，于矫正月龄6个月时对其眼注视情况进行评估。将6张分别带有社会性与非社会性图形的测试板依次投射于电脑屏幕，记录早产儿对每张测试板的注视时长与注视占比。在矫正月龄18个月时，完成幼儿自闭症改良检查表（Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, M-CHAT）的评定。
研究结果：无论社会性图形在测试板上的位置如何，早产儿对社会性图形的视觉注视时长均长于非社会性图像。注视社会性图形与非社会性图形、带有直接注视或间接注视的社会性图形，以及注视社会性图形眼部或口部的早产儿占比相近。无早产儿在M-CHAT筛查中结果呈阳性。
研究结论：矫正月龄6个月时，早产儿可在眼动追踪测试中完成注视行为，且表现出对社会性图形的偏好，提示该工具可作为自闭症谱系障碍筛查的辅助手段。