Children with autism often struggle to maintain eye contact due to neurological and sensory processing differences that make direct gaze overwhelming or uncomfortable. This challenge stems from atypical brain responses rather than disinterest or rudeness.
## Neurological Factors
Brain imaging reveals overactivation in subcortical areas like the amygdala and thalamus during eye contact, triggering stress or aversion. An excitatory-inhibitory imbalance heightens this response, especially to eyes, disrupting normal social processing. Reduced activity in the dorsal parietal cortex and fusiform gyrus also impairs face recognition and gaze handling.
## Sensory and Cognitive Overload
Eye contact adds intense sensory input, dominating focus and hindering verbal comprehension for those with heightened sensitivities. It demands extra mental effort to process facial cues, leaving less capacity for conversation or other tasks.
