INTRApersonal Synchrony as Constituent of INTERpersonal Synchrony and Its Relevance for Autism Spectrum Disorder

TLDR

Interpersonal synchrony enhances empathy, rapport, and bonding, yet individuals with ASD struggle to synchronize, and the role of intrapersonal synchrony in this deficit remains unclear. The authors propose that atypical intrapersonal synchrony underlies interpersonal synchrony deficits in ASD and suggest assessing temporal parameters of social behavior to guide future research. They review existing evidence of interpersonal dissynchrony in ASD, present a temporal model of intrapersonal dissynchrony, and outline literature on timing abnormalities and motion patterns. The article concludes that research on intrapersonal timing in ASD has diagnostic and therapeutic implications, underscoring the need for intensified investigation.

Abstract

INTERpersonal synchrony leads to increased empathy, rapport and understanding, enabling successful human-human-interactions and reciprocal bonding. Research shows that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) exhibit difficulties to INTERpersonally synchronize but underlying causes are yet unknown. In order to successfully synchronize with others, INTRApersonal synchronization of communicative signals appears to be a necessary prerequisite. We understand INTRApersonal synchrony as an implicit factor of INTERpersonal synchrony and therefore hypothesize that atypicalities of INTRApersonal synchrony may add to INTERpersonal synchrony problems in ASD and their interaction partners. In this perspective article, we first review evidence for INTERpersonal dissynchrony in ASD, with respect to different approaches and assessment methods. Second, we draft a theoretical conceptualization of INTRApersonal dissynchrony in ASD based on a temporal model of human interaction. We will outline literature indicating INTRApersonal dissynchrony in ASD, therefore highlighting findings of atypical timing functions and findings from clinical and behavioral studies that indicate peculiar motion patterns and communicative signal production in ASD. Third, we hypothesize that findings from these domains suggest an assessment and investigation of temporal parameters of social behavior in individuals with ASD. We will further propose specific goals of empirical approaches on INTRApersonal dissynchrony. Finally we present implications of research on INTRApersonal timing in ASD for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, what in our opinion warrants the increase of research efforts in this domain.