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 (≥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.
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Acknowledgments
The research was supported by The Alma and K. A. Snellman Foundation, Oulu, Finland (PI: S. Kuusikko, H. Haapsamo, M-L. Mattila); Child Psychiatric Research Foundation, Finland (PI: S. Kuusikko, M-L. Mattila); Child Psychiatric Research Foundation, Northern Ostrobothnia Hospital District Area, Finland (PI: S. Kuusikko, M-L. Mattila); Emil Aaltonen Foundation, Finland (PI: H. Ebeling); the Rinnekoti Research Foundation, Espoo, Finland (PI: M-L. Mattila); Thule Institute, University of Oulu (PI: I. Moilanen); and Juselius Foundation (PI: I. Moilanen). The Graduate School of Circumpolar Wellbeing, Health and Adaptation is acknowledged for their support. We want to thank the participants of the study, Clinical Psychologist Raija Ollikainen for translating the FEFA in Finnish, Ms Kaisa Kouri, Ms Katja Larinen, and Mr Jukka Rahko for their help in data collection, and Leena Joskitt for her statistical advises.
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Kuusikko, S., Haapsamo, H., Jansson-Verkasalo, E. et al. Emotion Recognition in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders. J Autism Dev Disord 39, 938–945 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0700-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-009-0700-0