{"id":{"repo_id":"unr","oai_identifier":"oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11880"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/unr/oai:scholarwolf.unr.edu:11714/11880","repository":{"repo_id":"unr","name":"University of Nevada - Reno","base_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Unraveling the trait overlap: Cortical and behavioral profiles differentiate subclinical autism and schizotypy","abstract":"Sensory processing is fundamentally disrupted in both schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their overlapping features heighten misdiagnosis risk, underscoring the need for distinct neural and behavioral biomarkers to differentiate the two disorders. In this dissertation, we ask the central question: Which sensory-processing biomarkers can differentiate nonclinical adults with high ASD and SZ traits in a way that is clinically useful? Non-clinical traits of ASD and SZ can be measured in the general population using validated scales such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief-Revised (SPQ-BR), respectively. Importantly, non-clinical samples are unmedicated and free from disease progression effects, and high scorers exhibit behavioral and sensory profiles resembling their corresponding clinical groups, demonstrating their high utility. Current literature suggests SZ and ASD differ principally in cortical excitability during early sensory processing, with SZ being characterized by hypo-excitability relative to controls and ASD, and the propensity for hallucinations in SZ. Building on our previous work, we pursued two aims: first, we examined visual and auditory steady-state responses using electroencephalography (EEG) to characterize differences in sensory cortical excitability between schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits, and their respective factors (Aim 1); second, we assessed prediction error susceptibility (auditory misperceptions), in schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits using a speech-in-noise behavioral task (Aim 2). We assessed both total non-clinical traits and specific non-clinical symptoms associated with the clinical disorders (factors). Overall, greater schizotypy trait load was associated with increased pattern glare test (PGT) illusions, suggesting cortical hyperexcitability, though steady-state responses were unrelated to power at Fz or Oz (Aim 1). High schizotypy also exhibited a conservative response bias in the auditory task, independent of perceptual sensitivity or confidence (Aim 2). No effects were observed for total ASD-like traits across either aim. At the factor level, individuals with high positive schizotypy traits showed attenuated Oz power alongside greater PGT illusions, while disorganized schizotypy was associated with cortical hyperexcitability at Oz (Aim 1). Heightened power at Oz is consistent with previous PGT findings, although here there was no direct relationship. Neither factor related to Fz power; however, disorganized schizotypy was associated with lower confidence ratings, and positive schizotypy showed a trend toward greater confidence ratings (Aim 2). Among ASD-like factors, attention to detail was associated with greater PGT illusions (Aim 1), imagination with a higher misperception rate driven by liberal response bias, and communication with lower confidence ratings (Aim 2). No effects of power at Oz or Fz were detected among ASD-like factors. In this dissertation, we identified neural and behavioral mechanisms selectively perturbed in schizotypy relative to non-clinical ASD traits, providing a foundation for future biomarker development, while addressing key questions left unresolved by our previous work. We challenge the conceptualization of some schizotypy dimensions, situate our findings within clinical phenomena, and advance theoretical interpretations. This is the beginning of an exciting journey toward progress.","abstract_html":"Sensory processing is fundamentally disrupted in both schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their overlapping features heighten misdiagnosis risk, underscoring the need for distinct neural and behavioral biomarkers to differentiate the two disorders. In this dissertation, we ask the central question: Which sensory-processing biomarkers can differentiate nonclinical adults with high ASD and SZ traits in a way that is clinically useful? Non-clinical traits of ASD and SZ can be measured in the general population using validated scales such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief-Revised (SPQ-BR), respectively. Importantly, non-clinical samples are unmedicated and free from disease progression effects, and high scorers exhibit behavioral and sensory profiles resembling their corresponding clinical groups, demonstrating their high utility. Current literature suggests SZ and ASD differ principally in cortical excitability during early sensory processing, with SZ being characterized by hypo-excitability relative to controls and ASD, and the propensity for hallucinations in SZ. Building on our previous work, we pursued two aims: first, we examined visual and auditory steady-state responses using electroencephalography (EEG) to characterize differences in sensory cortical excitability between schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits, and their respective factors (Aim 1); second, we assessed prediction error susceptibility (auditory misperceptions), in schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits using a speech-in-noise behavioral task (Aim 2). We assessed both total non-clinical traits and specific non-clinical symptoms associated with the clinical disorders (factors). Overall, greater schizotypy trait load was associated with increased pattern glare test (PGT) illusions, suggesting cortical hyperexcitability, though steady-state responses were unrelated to power at Fz or Oz (Aim 1). High schizotypy also exhibited a conservative response bias in the auditory task, independent of perceptual sensitivity or confidence (Aim 2). No effects were observed for total ASD-like traits across either aim. At the factor level, individuals with high positive schizotypy traits showed attenuated Oz power alongside greater PGT illusions, while disorganized schizotypy was associated with cortical hyperexcitability at Oz (Aim 1). Heightened power at Oz is consistent with previous PGT findings, although here there was no direct relationship. Neither factor related to Fz power; however, disorganized schizotypy was associated with lower confidence ratings, and positive schizotypy showed a trend toward greater confidence ratings (Aim 2). Among ASD-like factors, attention to detail was associated with greater PGT illusions (Aim 1), imagination with a higher misperception rate driven by liberal response bias, and communication with lower confidence ratings (Aim 2). No effects of power at Oz or Fz were detected among ASD-like factors. In this dissertation, we identified neural and behavioral mechanisms selectively perturbed in schizotypy relative to non-clinical ASD traits, providing a foundation for future biomarker development, while addressing key questions left unresolved by our previous work. We challenge the conceptualization of some schizotypy dimensions, situate our findings within clinical phenomena, and advance theoretical interpretations. This is the beginning of an exciting journey toward progress.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Torrens, Wendy Alfonso"],"institution":null,"degree_name":null,"degree_level":"Doctorate Degree","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Haigh, Sarah M"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":["Berryhill, Marian E","Jiang, Fang","Hutsler, Jeffrey J","Contreras, Bethany","Ryst, Erika"],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026","date_published":"2026","updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:46:41Z","subjects":["Auditory","Autism","Biomarkers","EEG","Schizophrenia","Visual"],"languages":["en_US","English"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11880","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Haigh, Sarah M"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Berryhill, Marian E","Jiang, Fang","Hutsler, Jeffrey J","Contreras, Bethany","Ryst, Erika"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Torrens, Wendy Alfonso"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date","label":"Dc Date","values":["01/01/2026"]},{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-06-25T16:20:43Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-06-25T16:20:43Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Dissertation"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Doctorate Degree"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Auditory","Autism","Biomarkers","EEG","Schizophrenia","Visual"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["English"]},{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en_US"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11880"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Sensory processing is fundamentally disrupted in both schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their overlapping features heighten misdiagnosis risk, underscoring the need for distinct neural and behavioral biomarkers to differentiate the two disorders. In this dissertation, we ask the central question: Which sensory-processing biomarkers can differentiate nonclinical adults with high ASD and SZ traits in a way that is clinically useful? Non-clinical traits of ASD and SZ can be measured in the general population using validated scales such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief-Revised (SPQ-BR), respectively. Importantly, non-clinical samples are unmedicated and free from disease progression effects, and high scorers exhibit behavioral and sensory profiles resembling their corresponding clinical groups, demonstrating their high utility. Current literature suggests SZ and ASD differ principally in cortical excitability during early sensory processing, with SZ being characterized by hypo-excitability relative to controls and ASD, and the propensity for hallucinations in SZ. Building on our previous work, we pursued two aims: first, we examined visual and auditory steady-state responses using electroencephalography (EEG) to characterize differences in sensory cortical excitability between schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits, and their respective factors (Aim 1); second, we assessed prediction error susceptibility (auditory misperceptions), in schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits using a speech-in-noise behavioral task (Aim 2). We assessed both total non-clinical traits and specific non-clinical symptoms associated with the clinical disorders (factors). Overall, greater schizotypy trait load was associated with increased pattern glare test (PGT) illusions, suggesting cortical hyperexcitability, though steady-state responses were unrelated to power at Fz or Oz (Aim 1). High schizotypy also exhibited a conservative response bias in the auditory task, independent of perceptual sensitivity or confidence (Aim 2). No effects were observed for total ASD-like traits across either aim. At the factor level, individuals with high positive schizotypy traits showed attenuated Oz power alongside greater PGT illusions, while disorganized schizotypy was associated with cortical hyperexcitability at Oz (Aim 1). Heightened power at Oz is consistent with previous PGT findings, although here there was no direct relationship. Neither factor related to Fz power; however, disorganized schizotypy was associated with lower confidence ratings, and positive schizotypy showed a trend toward greater confidence ratings (Aim 2). Among ASD-like factors, attention to detail was associated with greater PGT illusions (Aim 1), imagination with a higher misperception rate driven by liberal response bias, and communication with lower confidence ratings (Aim 2). No effects of power at Oz or Fz were detected among ASD-like factors. In this dissertation, we identified neural and behavioral mechanisms selectively perturbed in schizotypy relative to non-clinical ASD traits, providing a foundation for future biomarker development, while addressing key questions left unresolved by our previous work. We challenge the conceptualization of some schizotypy dimensions, situate our findings within clinical phenomena, and advance theoretical interpretations. This is the beginning of an exciting journey toward progress."]},{"key":"dc:format","label":"Dc Format","values":["PDF"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Unraveling the trait overlap: Cortical and behavioral profiles differentiate subclinical autism and schizotypy"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Haigh, Sarah M"],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Berryhill, Marian E","Jiang, Fang","Hutsler, Jeffrey J","Contreras, Bethany","Ryst, Erika"],"dc:creator":["Torrens, Wendy Alfonso"],"dc:date":["01/01/2026"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-06-25T16:20:43Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-06-25T16:20:43Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026"],"dc:description.abstract":["Sensory processing is fundamentally disrupted in both schizophrenia (SZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), yet their overlapping features heighten misdiagnosis risk, underscoring the need for distinct neural and behavioral biomarkers to differentiate the two disorders. In this dissertation, we ask the central question: Which sensory-processing biomarkers can differentiate nonclinical adults with high ASD and SZ traits in a way that is clinically useful? Non-clinical traits of ASD and SZ can be measured in the general population using validated scales such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire Brief-Revised (SPQ-BR), respectively. Importantly, non-clinical samples are unmedicated and free from disease progression effects, and high scorers exhibit behavioral and sensory profiles resembling their corresponding clinical groups, demonstrating their high utility. Current literature suggests SZ and ASD differ principally in cortical excitability during early sensory processing, with SZ being characterized by hypo-excitability relative to controls and ASD, and the propensity for hallucinations in SZ. Building on our previous work, we pursued two aims: first, we examined visual and auditory steady-state responses using electroencephalography (EEG) to characterize differences in sensory cortical excitability between schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits, and their respective factors (Aim 1); second, we assessed prediction error susceptibility (auditory misperceptions), in schizotypy and non-clinical ASD traits using a speech-in-noise behavioral task (Aim 2). We assessed both total non-clinical traits and specific non-clinical symptoms associated with the clinical disorders (factors). Overall, greater schizotypy trait load was associated with increased pattern glare test (PGT) illusions, suggesting cortical hyperexcitability, though steady-state responses were unrelated to power at Fz or Oz (Aim 1). High schizotypy also exhibited a conservative response bias in the auditory task, independent of perceptual sensitivity or confidence (Aim 2). No effects were observed for total ASD-like traits across either aim. At the factor level, individuals with high positive schizotypy traits showed attenuated Oz power alongside greater PGT illusions, while disorganized schizotypy was associated with cortical hyperexcitability at Oz (Aim 1). Heightened power at Oz is consistent with previous PGT findings, although here there was no direct relationship. Neither factor related to Fz power; however, disorganized schizotypy was associated with lower confidence ratings, and positive schizotypy showed a trend toward greater confidence ratings (Aim 2). Among ASD-like factors, attention to detail was associated with greater PGT illusions (Aim 1), imagination with a higher misperception rate driven by liberal response bias, and communication with lower confidence ratings (Aim 2). No effects of power at Oz or Fz were detected among ASD-like factors. In this dissertation, we identified neural and behavioral mechanisms selectively perturbed in schizotypy relative to non-clinical ASD traits, providing a foundation for future biomarker development, while addressing key questions left unresolved by our previous work. We challenge the conceptualization of some schizotypy dimensions, situate our findings within clinical phenomena, and advance theoretical interpretations. This is the beginning of an exciting journey toward progress."],"dc:format":["PDF"],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://scholarwolf.unr.edu/handle/11714/11880"],"dc:language":["English"],"dc:language.iso":["en_US"],"dc:subject":["Auditory","Autism","Biomarkers","EEG","Schizophrenia","Visual"],"dc:title":["Unraveling the trait overlap: Cortical and behavioral profiles differentiate subclinical autism and schizotypy"],"dc:type":["Dissertation"],"thesis:degree_level":["Doctorate Degree"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-27T21:46:41Z"}