Gender differences in facial expression recognition in survivors of pediatric brain tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relation between gender, history of cranial radiation therapy (CRT) and facial expression recognition (FER) skill in survivors of pediatric brain tumors.


METHODS
Fifty-three survivors (27 females) completed a measure of FER and an intelligence test.


RESULTS
There was a significant interaction between gender and CRT on ability to interpret low-intensity facial expressions, such that females who had not had CRT made fewer errors than either females who had CRT or males.


CONCLUSIONS
A history of CRT has a notable effect on FER skill in females: girls who received CRT performed significantly more poorly than girls who did not.
Willard
Victoria W
VW
Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA. willa011@duke.edu
Hardy
Kristina K
KK
Bonner
Melanie J
MJ
D000293:Adolescent; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D001921:Brain / Q000528:radiation effects; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002648:Child; D016371:Cranial Irradiation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004644:Emotions / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004806:Ependymoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000523:psychology / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012917:Social Adjustment; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*