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Reaction Time of Facial Affect Recognition in Asperger’s Disorder for Cartoon and Real, Static and Moving Faces

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Abstract

This study used a choice reaction-time paradigm to test the perceived impairment of facial affect recognition in Asperger’s disorder. Twenty teenagers with Asperger’s disorder and 20 controls were compared with respect to the latency and accuracy of response to happy or disgusted facial expressions, presented in cartoon or real images and in static or moving conditions. Group analysis revealed that the Asperger group did not differ significantly from the control group in speed and accuracy for both affects and in all presentation modalities. Individual analysis, however, revealed that the proportion of participants exhibiting a happy face advantage was smaller in the Asperger group than in the control group. The results did not support the notion of impairment in facial affect recognition in terms of speed and accuracy in Asperger’s disorder. Findings also revealed that the absence of happy face advantage was more prevalent in individuals with Asperger’s disorder.

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Acknowledgement

We thank all participants, their parents, and staff of the Asperger Society who have contributed to this study. We are also grateful for technical support by Stephen Goodlass, editorial comments by Jonothan Logan, and statistical consultation by Brian Nivens.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Movement Development Clinic, School of Physical Education, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Motohide Miyahara

  2. Donald Beasley Institute, P.O. Box 6189, Dunedin, New Zealand

    Anne Bray

  3. Chukyo University, 101 Tokodachi, Kaidu-cho, Toyota city, Aichi prefecture, 470-0393, Japan

    Masatsugu Tsujii & Chikako Fujita

  4. 1-2 Osakada, Morioka-cho, Aichi Children’s Hospital, Obu City, Aichi prefecture, 474-0031, Japan

    Toshiro Sugiyama

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  1. Motohide Miyahara
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  2. Anne Bray
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  3. Masatsugu Tsujii
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  4. Chikako Fujita
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  5. Toshiro Sugiyama
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Correspondence to Motohide Miyahara.

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Miyahara, M., Bray, A., Tsujii, M. et al. Reaction Time of Facial Affect Recognition in Asperger’s Disorder for Cartoon and Real, Static and Moving Faces. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 38, 121–134 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-007-0048-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-007-0048-7

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