Slowing down presentation of facial movements and vocal sounds enhances facial expression recognition and induces facial-vocal imitation in children with autism.
This study examined the effects of slowing down presentation of facial expressions and their corresponding vocal sounds on facial expression recognition and facial and/or vocal imitation in children with autism. Twelve autistic children and twenty-four normal control children were presented with emotional and non-emotional facial expressions on CD-Rom, under audio or silent conditions, and under dynamic visual conditions (slowly, very slowly, at normal speed) plus a static control. Overall, children with autism showed lower performance in expression recognition and more induced facial-vocal imitation than controls. In the autistic group, facial expression recognition and induced facial-vocal imitation were significantly enhanced in slow conditions. Findings may give new perspectives for understanding and intervention for verbal and emotional perceptive and communicative impairments in autistic populations.
Tardif
Carole
C
Laboratoire de Psychologie de la Connaissance, du Langage et des Emotions (PSYCLE), UFR de Psychologie, Université de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, France.
Lainé
France
F
Rodriguez
Mélissa
M
Gepner
Bruno
B
D000293:Adolescent; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016251:CD-ROM; D002648:Child; D004519:Education, Special; D004644:Emotions; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D005868:Gestures; D006801:Humans; D007100:Imitative Behavior; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual; D011930:Reaction Time; D014705:Verbal Behavior