HarryWilliams
Sea Gull
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Age: 115
Posts: 226
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 Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: Autistics Have Better Vision Than Birds of Prey |
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An astonishing new study from Cambridge University is reported on the New Republic Blog http://the-newrepublic.blogspot.com/2008/11/enhanced-perception-in-autism.html
It says that autistics have better visual acuity, than even birds of prey, and that this trait is so universal in autistics, that it could be used as a diagnostic maker.
Probably the most amazing thing I've read about autism for years...
This deserves to be on the evening news. Someone call NBC... ... |
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Hector
etc., etc.
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Joined: Mar 11, 2008
Age: 26
Posts: 2846
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| Well I'm nearsighted, guess that means I'm not on the spectrum. |
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anna-banana
indifferent peapod
Joined: Aug 31, 2008
Age: 30
Posts: 6740
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:40 am Post subject: |
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very interesting.
good thing they added "autism as a difference, rather than a pathology" at the end, couldn't agree more.
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not a bug - a feature.
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HarryWilliams
Sea Gull
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Age: 115
Posts: 226
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:44 am Post subject: |
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| Hector wrote: | | Well I'm nearsighted, guess that means I'm not on the spectrum. |
The study mentions that correct sight (i.e. put you glasses on!) and the effect is still seen... ... |
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HarryWilliams
Sea Gull
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Age: 115
Posts: 226
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: |
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[quote="HarryWilliams"] | Hector wrote: | | Well I'm nearsighted, guess that means I'm not on the spectrum. |
The study mentions that with corrected sight (i.e. put you glasses on!) and the effect is still seen... ... |
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anna-banana
indifferent peapod
Joined: Aug 31, 2008
Age: 30
Posts: 6740
Location: Europe
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 9:51 am Post subject: |
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I downloaded this test but unfortunately I don't have the little numeric keybord on my right so I could only do the one with arrows... this test looks too easy though, I got 100% in contrast for god knows what...
I've always been known as eagle-eye, but I wouldn't say I'm even close to prey birds...
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not a bug - a feature.
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Owendust
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Age: 31
Posts: 175
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:10 am Post subject: |
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| I do remember one optometrist telling me that she was amazed at how long I was able to keep two images separate, in a test where they move two copies of the same image closer together until they seem to blur together. She actually seemed a bit shocked and told me that I have really strong eyes. |
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HarryWilliams
Sea Gull
Joined: Apr 07, 2008
Age: 115
Posts: 226
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:27 am Post subject: |
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| Owendust wrote: | | I do remember one optometrist telling me that she was amazed at how long I was able to keep two images separate, in a test where they move two copies of the same image closer together until they seem to blur together. She actually seemed a bit shocked and told me that I have really strong eyes. |
I'm just about to have my eyes tested, because I know I need glasses (time-of-life-issues...), and I'm wondering, if this kind of visual acuity will affect the result, and mean I won't get the right glasses... |
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Owendust
Pileated woodpecker
Joined: Oct 01, 2008
Age: 31
Posts: 175
Location: Southern California
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 10:30 am Post subject: |
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| I've had either glasses or contacts since I was 11, and I never had a problem getting the right prescription. It's basically up to what looks better to you. |
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a3soggetti
Emu Egg
Joined: Oct 31, 2008
Posts: 6
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:21 am Post subject: |
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| My Vernier threshold is consistently 0.0 arcmin. |
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Dr_Wishful
Butterfly
Joined: Oct 26, 2008
Posts: 11
Location: California
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:24 am Post subject: Re: Autistics Have Better Vision Than Birds of Prey |
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| Quote: | It says that autistics have better visual acuity, than even birds of prey, and that this trait is so universal in autistics, that it could be used as a diagnostic maker.
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I took the test without setting preferences and with a dirty monitor and with old glasses (probably need a new prescription).
I got the following results: dec. VA 1.04 snellen fraction 13/13, Threshold contrast 0.81%, Vernier threshold 0.23 arcmin.
Has anybody perused the literature enough to know what are "normal" numbers and what are "birds of prey" numbers?
edited to add VA: This number doesn't seem to correspond with the number from the article. I consistently get all answers correct on the visual acuity test and the number is always 1.04 with a snellen fraction of 13/13. If I intentionally misidentify some, the VA number drops to something like 0.48 and the snellen fraction changes to something like 14/28. Still looking for someone who can interpret the numbers.
edit2: Ran the standalone version and changed the preferences (selected all 4 check boxes associated with acuity format, and changed max displayed acuity to unlimited) and got a VA of 4.27; don't know what is correct now.
Last edited by Dr_Wishful on Sun Nov 02, 2008 1:10 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Ishmael
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 08, 2008
Posts: 1310
Location: Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:47 am Post subject: |
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Wow, I honestly thought that was just me! You lot can see as far as I can, too? Neat.
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Oh, well, fancy that! Isn't that neat, eh? |
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Danielismyname
Keep making noises... .
Joined: Apr 03, 2007
Posts: 9599
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:01 pm Post subject: |
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It's been well known for awhile..... It ties in with many features of autism, i.e., the attention to parts of objects and detail. It's not due to good eyesight; rather, it's due to the breaking down of objects mentally into their component pieces when an autistic individual looks at them. It's why many people with autism are good at mechanical and technical thingies without training (I can take complex things apart and put them back together without instruction for example).
As far as I'm aware however, not everyone with Autism experiences this way of "sight" (I know I do). |
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Aurore
Dingo Lycanthrope
Joined: Dec 07, 2007
Age: 22
Posts: 1516
Location: Virginia Tech
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:06 pm Post subject: |
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I can't take the test on my laptop...stupid lack of number pad...
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“Evil? No. Cursed?! No. COATED IN CHOCOLATE?! Perhaps. At one time. But NO LONGER.” |
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Dr_Wishful
Butterfly
Joined: Oct 26, 2008
Posts: 11
Location: California
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Aurore wrote: | | I can't take the test on my laptop...stupid lack of number pad... |
Open 2 browser windows, one with the original page that shows which number is associated with which direction, and one with the actual test. Then you can check to see which number you should use. That's what I did on my laptop without a number pad. |
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