A Case Study on Pre-stimulus Effect on Face Processing in an Individual with Autism

Face perception recruits different neural mechanisms in comparison to other objects and individuals with autism show disruptions in facial processing in comparison to other objects. Scientists have reported multiple abnormalities in both the early and late stages of face processing in people who suffer from autism. On the other hand, pre-stimulus oscillation could impact the perception of the incoming stimulus in healthy participants. Yet, the effect of pre-stimulus oscillations on post-stimulus activities in individuals with autism has rarely been investigated. Here we acquired magnetoencephalography (MEG) to explore the role of pre-stimulus alpha oscillations on the face and non-face perception in an autistic participant. Our results showed that the pre-stimulus alpha power in the lateral occipital cortex yielded to the significant separation of post-stimulus activities in the fusiform face area as well as the intra-parietal sulcus in response to human face stimulus.