title: Is emotion recognition impaired in individuals with autism spectrum disorders?
abstract: Researchers have argued that individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) use an effortful "systematizing" process to recognize emotion expressions, whereas typically developing (TD) individuals use a more holistic process. If this is the case, individuals with ASDs should show slower and less efficient emotion recognition, particularly for socially complex emotions. We tested this account by assessing the speed and accuracy of emotion recognition while limiting exposure time and response window. Children and adolescents with ASDs showed quick and accurate recognition for most emotions, including pride, a socially complex emotion, and no differences emerged between ASD and TD groups. Furthermore, both groups trended toward higher accuracy when responding quickly, even though systematizing should promote a speed-accuracy trade-off for individuals with ASDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. jltracy@psych.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Jessica L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tracy
authors.forename: Richard W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Robins
authors.forename: Roberta A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schriber
authors.forename: Marjorie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005149:Facial Expression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*
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