Eye-tracking in infants may aid earlier recognition of autism, study suggests

Exploring new pathways for developmental recognition

Researchers are investigating whether eye-tracking technology could help recognize autism-related developmental patterns in infants earlier than current methods allow. A March 2024 study published in Nature found that just two minutes of eye-tracking data from 12-month-old infants showed gaze patterns that differed between those later identified as autistic and neurotypical peers.

The protocol measures how babies distribute their attention in social scenes — particularly where they focus when faces and objects appear together. These findings build on earlier work like a 2022 Frontiers in Psychiatry study showing that attention patterns may develop differently in autistic infants.

Current identification tools typically can't reliably recognize autism until age 3 or later.

Potential benefits of earlier recognition

Identifying developmental differences earlier — ideally before age 2 — could allow children to access supports during periods of high brain plasticity. As noted in a 2026 Frontiers narrative review, behavioral differences in social attention often precede formal autism identification by years.

Current identification tools typically can't reliably recognize autism until age 3 or later. While parent questionnaires and clinician observation remain standard, a 2025 Cureus systematic review notes these approaches have limitations in sensitivity and may be influenced by cultural and socioeconomic factors.

Considerations and next steps

While eye-tracking shows research potential, experts emphasize it's not yet ready for clinical use. The technology would need to demonstrate consistent accuracy across diverse populations, accounting for cultural variations in eye contact norms as discussed in NIH research. A ScienceDirect systematic review highlights that no single behavioral difference reliably predicts autism alone.

The Nature study authors stress their protocol is investigational, with a small sample size of 66 infants. If validated through larger studies, it might eventually complement existing screening methods, potentially helping identify children who could benefit from developmental monitoring. However, as The Transmitter reports, cost and accessibility barriers could limit widespread implementation of eye-tracking technology.