title: Emotion recognition in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: We examined upper facial basic emotion recognition in 57 subjects with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) (M = 13.5 years) and 33 typically developing controls (M = 14.3 years) by using a standardized computer-aided measure (The Frankfurt Test and Training of Facial Affect Recognition, FEFA). The ASD group scored lower than controls on the total scores of FEFA and perceived ambiguous stimuli more often as a negative emotion. The older ASD group (> or =12 years) performed better than the younger ASD group (<12 years) on the blended emotions of FEFA. The results support the findings that individuals with ASD have difficulties in emotion recognition. However, older subjects with ASD seem to have better skills than younger subjects with ASD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Child Psychiatry, University and University Hospital of Oulu, P.O. Box 26, Oulu 90029 OYS, Finland. kuusisan@paju.oulu.fi
authors.forename: Sanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuusikko
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Haapsamo
authors.forename: Eira
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jansson-Verkasalo
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hurtig
authors.forename: Marja-Leena
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Mattila
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ebeling
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jussila
authors.forename: Sven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bölte
authors.forename: Irma
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moilanen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D004644:Emotions; D005145:Face; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D014796:Visual Perception; D055815:Young Adult