Abstract

TOMAZ, Guilherme Trindade et al. Autism and Intellectual Disability students’ eye-tracking in emotional expressions. Aval. psicol. [online]. 2026, vol.25, e24472.  Epub Apr 10, 2026. ISSN 1677-0471.  https://doi.org/10.15689/ap.2026.25.e24472.

The use of implicit measures in facial expressions can contribute to a more refined analysis of stimulus control over attentional processes. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of using an eye-tracking technique with a mobile device in an educational context, involving three students with autism and two with intellectual disabilities in tasks evaluating faces displaying happiness, surprise, sadness, anger, and neutrality. The procedure consisted of 120 trials, divided into three groups of stimuli. Measures included fixation time on the presentation screen and the human face (specifically, the eyes, nose, and mouth). A t-test revealed no significant differences in time spent on the face (p=.368) and the total time (p=.368). A Chi-square test found no difference in the choice of positive versus negative emotions (p=.5625). The results highlight the particularities of individuals on the autistic spectrum in their ability to observe human faces and may contribute to the planning of future interventions aimed at enhancing emotional recognition. Additionally, the study addressed the challenges encountered in applying this technique in real-world contexts.

Keywords : autism; intellectual disability; emotions; eye-tracking; facial expressions.

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