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Brief Report: Sensitivity of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Face Appearance in Selective Trust

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Abstract

The current study examined how children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) could selectively trust others based on three facial cues: the face race, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. In a computer-based hide-and-seek game, two face images, which differed significantly in one of the three facial cues, were presented as two cues for selective trust. Children had to selectively trust the own-race, attractive and trustworthy faces to get the prize. Our findings demonstrate an intact ability of selective trust based on face appearance in ASD compared to typical children: they could selectively trust the informant based on face race and attractiveness. Our results imply that despite their face recognition deficits, children with ASD are still sensitive to some aspects of face appearance.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China (31571135, 31200779). The authors are grateful to Tianbi Li, ShuYuan Feng, Xiao Yu, the staff in Qingdao Elim School, Xingfuzhijia Kindergarten, Yilei Kindergarten, and Chigangyuan Kindergarten, for their generous assistance in completing the study.

Author Contributions

LY was responsible for designing and overseeing the experiment, and writing the manuscript. PL was responsible for designing and conducting the experiment, and drafting the manuscript. CZ was involved in data collection. All authors read and approved the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Sun Yat-sen University, 135 Xingang West Road, Guangzhou, 510275, Guangdong, China

    Pengli Li

  2. Qingdao Autism Research Institute, 7 Jinsong Seven Road, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China

    Chunhua Zhang

  3. Department of Psychology and Beijing Key Laboratory of Behavior and Mental Health, Peking University, 5 Yiheyuan Road, Beijing, 100871, China

    Li Yi

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  1. Pengli Li
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  2. Chunhua Zhang
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  3. Li Yi
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Correspondence to Li Yi.

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Li, P., Zhang, C. & Yi, L. Brief Report: Sensitivity of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders to Face Appearance in Selective Trust. J Autism Dev Disord 46, 2520–2525 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-016-2761-1

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