Brief report: eye movements during visual search tasks indicate enhanced stimulus discriminability in subjects with PDD.

The team asked 14 high-functioning adults with PDD and 14 matched controls to find a tilted line on a computer screen.

An eye-tracking camera recorded every glance while the adults searched.

Each person did 120 trials; the researchers counted how fast targets were found and how many eye moves were made.

The PDD group found the target about one second faster than controls.

They also made 30 % fewer eye movements.

Fewer looks plus faster finds means their brains could tell the items apart more easily, not that they searched harder.

Dickinson et al. (2014) saw the same edge in neurotypical adults who simply scored high on autistic traits.

That study used a fine orientation task instead of a search task, so the “better discrimination” pattern now spans both clinical and non-clinical groups.

Lim et al. (2016) seems to disagree: they found smaller early brain waves (P100) in ASD adults during a passive viewing task.

The clash is only surface-deep. Chantal et al. measured fast choices and eye moves; K et al. measured tiny early electrical responses.

Strong early brain waves are not needed for quick, accurate choices, so both papers can be true.

When you test visual skills, expect clients with ASD to spot small differences quickly. Use that strength to teach visual supports, matching tasks, or errorless discrimination lessons. Do not assume slow processing—check accuracy first, then pace your instruction to their rapid eye-brain link.