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Taitelbaum-Swead R, Ben-David BM. The Role of Early Intact Auditory Experience on the Perception of Spoken Emotions, Comparing Prelingual to Postlingual Cochlear Implant Users. Ear Hear 2024:00003446-990000000-00312. [PMID: 39004788 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Cochlear implants (CI) are remarkably effective, but have limitations regarding the transformation of the spectro-temporal fine structures of speech. This may impair processing of spoken emotions, which involves the identification and integration of semantic and prosodic cues. Our previous study found spoken-emotions-processing differences between CI users with postlingual deafness (postlingual CI) and normal hearing (NH) matched controls (age range, 19 to 65 years). Postlingual CI users over-relied on semantic information in incongruent trials (prosody and semantics present different emotions), but rated congruent trials (same emotion) similarly to controls. Postlingual CI's intact early auditory experience may explain this pattern of results. The present study examined whether CI users without intact early auditory experience (prelingual CI) would generally perform worse on spoken emotion processing than NH and postlingual CI users, and whether CI use would affect prosodic processing in both CI groups. First, we compared prelingual CI users with their NH controls. Second, we compared the results of the present study to our previous study (Taitlebaum-Swead et al. 2022; postlingual CI). DESIGN Fifteen prelingual CI users and 15 NH controls (age range, 18 to 31 years) listened to spoken sentences composed of different combinations (congruent and incongruent) of three discrete emotions (anger, happiness, sadness) and neutrality (performance baseline), presented in prosodic and semantic channels (Test for Rating of Emotions in Speech paradigm). Listeners were asked to rate (six-point scale) the extent to which each of the predefined emotions was conveyed by the sentence as a whole (integration of prosody and semantics), or to focus only on one channel (rating the target emotion [RTE]) and ignore the other (selective attention). In addition, all participants performed standard tests of speech perception. Performance on the Test for Rating of Emotions in Speech was compared with the previous study (postlingual CI). RESULTS When asked to focus on one channel, semantics or prosody, both CI groups showed a decrease in prosodic RTE (compared with controls), but only the prelingual CI group showed a decrease in semantic RTE. When the task called for channel integration, both groups of CI users used semantic emotional information to a greater extent than their NH controls. Both groups of CI users rated sentences that did not present the target emotion higher than their NH controls, indicating some degree of confusion. However, only the prelingual CI group rated congruent sentences lower than their NH controls, suggesting reduced accumulation of information across channels. For prelingual CI users, individual differences in identification of monosyllabic words were significantly related to semantic identification and semantic-prosodic integration. CONCLUSIONS Taken together with our previous study, we found that the degradation of acoustic information by the CI impairs the processing of prosodic emotions, in both CI user groups. This distortion appears to lead CI users to over-rely on the semantic information when asked to integrate across channels. Early intact auditory exposure among CI users was found to be necessary for the effective identification of semantic emotions, as well as the accumulation of emotional information across the two channels. Results suggest that interventions for spoken-emotion processing should not ignore the onset of hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riki Taitelbaum-Swead
- Department of Communication Disorders, Speech Perception and Listening Effort Lab in the name of Prof. Mordechai Himelfarb, Ariel University, Israel
- Meuhedet Health Services, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz M Ben-David
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- KITE Research Institute, Toronto Rehabilitation Institute-University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Day TC, Malik I, Boateng S, Hauschild KM, Lerner MD. Vocal Emotion Recognition in Autism: Behavioral Performance and Event-Related Potential (ERP) Response. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:1235-1248. [PMID: 36694007 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-023-05898-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Autistic youth display difficulties in emotion recognition, yet little research has examined behavioral and neural indices of vocal emotion recognition (VER). The current study examines behavioral and event-related potential (N100, P200, Late Positive Potential [LPP]) indices of VER in autistic and non-autistic youth. Participants (N = 164) completed an emotion recognition task, the Diagnostic Analyses of Nonverbal Accuracy (DANVA-2) which included VER, during EEG recording. The LPP amplitude was larger in response to high intensity VER, and social cognition predicted VER errors. Verbal IQ, not autism, was related to VER errors. An interaction between VER intensity and social communication impairments revealed these impairments were related to larger LPP amplitudes during low intensity VER. Taken together, differences in VER may be due to higher order cognitive processes, not basic, early perception (N100, P200), and verbal cognitive abilities may underlie behavioral, yet occlude neural, differences in VER processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Talena C Day
- Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, Psychology B-354, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-2500, USA
| | - Isha Malik
- Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, Psychology B-354, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-2500, USA
| | - Sydney Boateng
- Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, Psychology B-354, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-2500, USA
| | | | - Matthew D Lerner
- Psychology Department, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, Psychology B-354, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-2500, USA.
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Bahri J, Abbes ZS, Ben Yahia H, Halayem S, Jelili S, Hajri M, Amado I, Medalia A, Bouden A. Toward an integrative socio-cognitive approach in autism spectrum disorder: NEAR method adaptation-study protocol. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:940066. [PMID: 37293399 PMCID: PMC10244578 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.940066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe cognitive impairments exhibited by people with ASD, threaten the development of social skills that are essential for establishing and maintaining harmonious social relationships. Cognitive remediation and social skills training are now considered as crucial therapeutic approaches in the management of these disorders. Several programs have already been validated and have shown improvements in social skills or cognitive performance. However, the effects of these training methods seem to be difficult to generalize to other everyday life. The aim of our study is to alleviate cognitive and social deficiencies by using a socio-cognitive framework to adapt the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) method for adolescents with ASD.Methods/designAdolescents meeting the DSM-5 criteria for ASD, older than 13 years, and following a regular school curriculum will be recruited from clinical population at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Razi University Hospital-Manouba- Tunisia. Our study is an open and non-randomized controlled trial including 30 patients: NEAR group / control group. The NEAR method combines computerized cognitive exercises and bridging groups inspired from cognitive behavioral therapy. NEAR group will be divided into three groups of five patients each. The duration of the sessions will vary according to the capacities of the participants and the exchanges between them (about 60–120 min). In our study, bridging groups will be amended by adding other tasks including planning role plays and scenarios of problematic social situations in autism, taking into account cultural particularities in order to promote social skills. Computerized exercises will be enriched by adding other tasks aiming to improve the recognition and expression of facial emotions by using digital videos and photographs expressing the six basic emotions. The duration of the program will be about 6 months. All selected patients will have an assessment of cognitive function: social cognition, neurocognition and pragmatic skills, social skills, self-esteem and global functioning at baseline, 1 week after the end of the NEAR program and 6 months later.ConclusionThis adaptive program is a promising socio-cognitive intervention that create new perspectives for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihene Bahri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Zeineb S. Abbes
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Houda Ben Yahia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Soumeyya Halayem
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Selima Jelili
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Melek Hajri
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Isabelle Amado
- CH Sainte-Anne, C3RP & Services de Psychiatrie d'adultes HU & 75G17, Paris, France
| | - Alice Medalia
- Department of Psychiatry, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, United States
| | - Asma Bouden
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Razi Hospital, Manouba, Tunisia
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
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Ortega J, Chen Z, Whitney D. Inferential Emotion Tracking reveals impaired context-based emotion processing in individuals with high Autism Quotient scores. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8093. [PMID: 37208368 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35371-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Emotion perception is essential for successful social interactions and maintaining long-term relationships with friends and family. Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience social communication deficits and have reported difficulties in facial expression recognition. However, emotion recognition depends on more than just processing face expression; context is critically important to correctly infer the emotions of others. Whether context-based emotion processing is impacted in those with Autism remains unclear. Here, we used a recently developed context-based emotion perception task, called Inferential Emotion Tracking (IET), and investigated whether individuals who scored high on the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) had deficits in context-based emotion perception. Using 34 videos (including Hollywood movies, home videos, and documentaries), we tested 102 participants as they continuously tracked the affect (valence and arousal) of a blurred-out, invisible character. We found that individual differences in Autism Quotient scores were more strongly correlated with IET task accuracy than they are with traditional face emotion perception tasks. This correlation remained significant even when controlling for potential covarying factors, general intelligence, and performance on traditional face perception tasks. These findings suggest that individuals with ASD may have impaired perception of contextual information, it reveals the importance of developing ecologically relevant emotion perception tasks in order to better assess and treat ASD, and it provides a new direction for further research on context-based emotion perception deficits in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jefferson Ortega
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Zhimin Chen
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - David Whitney
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Vision Science Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
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Zhang M, Chen Y, Lin Y, Ding H, Zhang Y. Multichannel Perception of Emotion in Speech, Voice, Facial Expression, and Gesture in Individuals With Autism: A Scoping Review. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:1435-1449. [PMID: 35316079 DOI: 10.1044/2022_jslhr-21-00438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Numerous studies have identified individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with deficits in unichannel emotion perception and multisensory integration. However, only limited research is available on multichannel emotion perception in ASD. The purpose of this review was to seek conceptual clarification, identify knowledge gaps, and suggest directions for future research. METHOD We conducted a scoping review of the literature published between 1989 and 2021, following the 2005 framework of Arksey and O'Malley. Data relating to study characteristics, task characteristics, participant information, and key findings on multichannel processing of emotion in ASD were extracted for the review. RESULTS Discrepancies were identified regarding multichannel emotion perception deficits, which are related to participant age, developmental level, and task demand. Findings are largely consistent regarding the facilitation and compensation of congruent multichannel emotional cues and the interference and disruption of incongruent signals. Unlike controls, ASD individuals demonstrate an overreliance on semantics rather than prosody to decode multichannel emotion. CONCLUSIONS The existing literature on multichannel emotion perception in ASD is limited, dispersed, and disassociated, focusing on a variety of topics with a wide range of methodologies. Further research is necessary to quantitatively examine the impact of methodological choice on performance outcomes. An integrated framework of emotion, language, and cognition is needed to examine the mutual influences between emotion and language as well as the cross-linguistic and cross-cultural differences. SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.19386176.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyue Zhang
- Speech-Language-Hearing Center, School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Speech-Language-Hearing Center, School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Yi Lin
- Speech-Language-Hearing Center, School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Hongwei Ding
- Speech-Language-Hearing Center, School of Foreign Languages, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences and Center for Neurobehavioral Development, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis
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6
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Carl M, Icht M, Ben-David BM. A Cross-Linguistic Validation of the Test for Rating Emotions in Speech: Acoustic Analyses of Emotional Sentences in English, German, and Hebrew. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:991-1000. [PMID: 35171689 DOI: 10.1044/2021_jslhr-21-00205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The Test for Rating Emotions in Speech (T-RES) has been developed in order to assess the processing of emotions in spoken language. In this tool, spoken sentences, which are composed of emotional content (anger, happiness, sadness, and neutral) in both semantics and prosody in different combinations, are rated by listeners. To date, English, German, and Hebrew versions have been developed, as well as online versions, iT-RES, to adapt to COVID-19 social restrictions. Since the perception of spoken emotions may be affected by linguistic (and cultural) variables, it is important to compare the acoustic characteristics of the stimuli within and between languages. The goal of the current report was to provide cross-linguistic acoustic validation of the T-RES. METHOD T-RES sentences in the aforementioned languages were acoustically analyzed in terms of mean F0, F0 range, and speech rate to obtain profiles of acoustic parameters for different emotions. RESULTS Significant within-language discriminability of prosodic emotions was found, for both mean F0 and speech rate. Similarly, these measures were associated with comparable patterns of prosodic emotions for each of the tested languages and emotional ratings. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate the lack of dependence of prosody and semantics within the T-RES stimuli. These findings illustrate the listeners' ability to clearly distinguish between the different prosodic emotions in each language, providing a cross-linguistic validation of the T-RES and iT-RES.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micalle Carl
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Israel
| | - Michal Icht
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Israel
| | - Boaz M Ben-David
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Reichman University (IDC) Herzliya, Israel
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Network (UHN), Ontario, Canada
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7
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More Than Words: the Relative Roles of Prosody and Semantics in the Perception of Emotions in Spoken Language by Postlingual Cochlear Implant Users. Ear Hear 2022; 43:1378-1389. [PMID: 35030551 DOI: 10.1097/aud.0000000000001199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The processing of emotional speech calls for the perception and integration of semantic and prosodic cues. Although cochlear implants allow for significant auditory improvements, they are limited in the transmission of spectro-temporal fine-structure information that may not support the processing of voice pitch cues. The goal of the current study is to compare the performance of postlingual cochlear implant (CI) users and a matched control group on perception, selective attention, and integration of emotional semantics and prosody. DESIGN Fifteen CI users and 15 normal hearing (NH) peers (age range, 18-65 years) 1istened to spoken sentences composed of different combinations of four discrete emotions (anger, happiness, sadness, and neutrality) presented in prosodic and semantic channels-T-RES: Test for Rating Emotions in Speech. In three separate tasks, listeners were asked to attend to the sentence as a whole, thus integrating both speech channels (integration), or to focus on one channel only (rating of target emotion) and ignore the other (selective attention). Their task was to rate how much they agreed that the sentence conveyed each of the predefined emotions. In addition, all participants performed standard tests of speech perception. RESULTS When asked to focus on one channel, semantics or prosody, both groups rated emotions similarly with comparable levels of selective attention. When the task was called for channel integration, group differences were found. CI users appeared to use semantic emotional information more than did their NH peers. CI users assigned higher ratings than did their NH peers to sentences that did not present the target emotion, indicating some degree of confusion. In addition, for CI users, individual differences in speech comprehension over the phone and identification of intonation were significantly related to emotional semantic and prosodic ratings, respectively. CONCLUSIONS CI users and NH controls did not differ in perception of prosodic and semantic emotions and in auditory selective attention. However, when the task called for integration of prosody and semantics, CI users overused the semantic information (as compared with NH). We suggest that as CI users adopt diverse cue weighting strategies with device experience, their weighting of prosody and semantics differs from those used by NH. Finally, CI users may benefit from rehabilitation strategies that strengthen perception of prosodic information to better understand emotional speech.
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Peinemann F, Tendal B, Bölte S. Digital serious games for emotional recognition in people with autism spectrum disorder. Hippokratia 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd014673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frank Peinemann
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology; Children's Hospital, University of Cologne; Cologne Germany
| | - Britta Tendal
- The Nordic Cochrane Centre; Rigshospitalet; Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Centre for Psychiatry Research; Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm; Stockholm Sweden
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm; Stockholm Sweden
- Curtin Autism Research Group, Curtin School of Allied Health; Curtin University; Perth Australia
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Icht M, Zukerman G, Ben-Itzchak E, Ben-David BM. Keep it simple: Identification of basic versus complex emotions in spoken language in individuals with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability: A meta-analysis study. Autism Res 2021; 14:1948-1964. [PMID: 34101373 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Daily functioning involves identifying emotions in spoken language, a fundamental aspect of social interactions. To date, there is inconsistent evidence in the literature on whether individuals with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability (ASD-without-ID) experience difficulties in identification of spoken emotions. We conducted a meta-analysis (literature search following the PRISMA guidelines), with 26 data sets (taken from 23 peer-reviewed journal articles) comparing individuals with ASD-without-ID (N = 614) and typically-developed (TD) controls (N = 640), from nine countries and in seven languages (published until February 2020). In our analyses there was no sufficient evidence to suggest that individuals with HF-ASD differ from matched controls in the identification of simple prosodic emotions (e.g., sadness, happiness). However, individuals with ASD-without-ID were found to perform significantly worse than controls in identification of complex prosodic emotions (e.g., envy and boredom). The level of the semantic content of the stimuli presented (e.g., sentences vs. strings of digits) was not found to have an impact on the results. In conclusion, the difference in findings between simple and complex emotions calls for a new-look on emotion processing in ASD-without-ID. Intervention programs may rely on the intact abilities of individuals with ASD-without-ID to process simple emotions and target improved performance with complex emotions. LAY SUMMARY: Individuals with autism spectrum disorder without intellectual disability (ASD-without-ID) do not differ from matched controls in the identification of simple prosodic emotions (e.g., sadness, happiness). However, they were found to perform significantly worse than controls in the identification of complex prosodic emotions (e.g., envy, boredom). This was found in a meta-analysis of 26 data sets with 1254 participants from nine countries and in seven languages. Intervention programs may rely on the intact abilities of individuals with ASD-without-ID to process simple emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Icht
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Gil Zukerman
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Esther Ben-Itzchak
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel.,The Bruckner Center for Research in Autism, Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Boaz M Ben-David
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya, Herzliya, Israel.,Department of Speech-Language Pathology, and Rehabilitation Sciences Institute (RSI), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Networks (UHN), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Kittel AFD, Olderbak S, Wilhelm O. Sty in the Mind's Eye: A Meta-Analytic Investigation of the Nomological Network and Internal Consistency of the "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test. Assessment 2021; 29:872-895. [PMID: 33645295 DOI: 10.1177/1073191121996469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Reading the Mind in the Eyes Test (RMET) is the most popular adult measure of individual differences in theory of mind. We present a meta-analytic investigation of the test's psychometric properties (k = 119 effect sizes, 61 studies, ntotal = 8,611 persons). Using random effects models, we found the internal consistency of the test was acceptable (α = .73). However, the RMET was more strongly related with emotion perception (r = .33, ρ = .48) relative to alternative theory of mind measures (r = .29, ρ = .39), and weakly to moderately related with vocabulary (r = .25, ρ = .32), cognitive empathy (r = .14, ρ = .20), and affective empathy (r = .13, ρ = .19). Overall, we conclude that the RMET operates rather as emotion perception measure than as theory of mind measure, challenging the interpretation of RMET results.
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Wang N, Zhao Y, Gao J. Association Between Peripheral Blood Levels of Vitamin A and Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children: A Meta-Analysis. Front Psychiatry 2021; 12:742937. [PMID: 34658977 PMCID: PMC8515042 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2021.742937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Vitamin A is an essential fat-soluble micronutrient that plays important roles in a surprisingly wide variety of biological processes from early growth and development to brain maintenance. Numerous clinical studies have been conducted to explore the relationship between peripheral vitamin A levels and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), but the results of these studies are controversial. Therefore, we assessed the association between peripheral vitamin A levels and ASD in the present meta-analysis. Relevant records were retrieved through the Embase, Web of Knowledge and PubMed databases up to 13 November 2020. Reference lists were also searched and analyzed. Hedges' g with its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the association between peripheral vitamin A levels and ASD. A fixed or random effects model was selected according to a heterogeneity test in overall and subgroup analyses. Five records (six studies) with 935 ASD children and 516 healthy children were included in the present study. Significantly decreased peripheral vitamin A concentrations were observed in ASD children compared with healthy children (Hedges' g = -0.600, 95% CI -1.153 to -0.048, P = 0.033). A similar result was also obtained after removing the studies identified by Galbraith plots. In addition, no obvious publication bias was found in the meta-analysis. The findings of our meta-analysis suggested decreased peripheral vitamin A levels in ASD children compared with healthy children. Further investigations into the effects of vitamin A on the development of ASD are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ni Wang
- Nursing Office of Beijing Road Medical District, General Hospital of Xinjiang Military Region, Wulumuqi, China
| | | | - Junwei Gao
- Department of Developmental Neuropsychology, School of Psychology, Third Military Medical University (Army Medical University), Chongqing, China
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Dandil Y, Smith K, Kinnaird E, Toloza C, Tchanturia K. Cognitive Remediation Interventions in Autism Spectrum Condition: A Systematic Review. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:722. [PMID: 32793009 PMCID: PMC7393993 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.00722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition characterized by difficulties in social cognition and heterogeneity of executive function which are suggested to be underpinned by neurobiological, prenatal and genetic factors. Cognitive remediation (CR) interventions are frequently used to address cognitive characteristics and improve cognitive and general functioning. However, the evidence is limited for ASC. This systematic review is the first to provide a narrative synthesis of all studies of CR interventions and ASC. The review aimed to delineate the development of research in this area in both adolescents and adults, with implications for clinical practice and future research. METHOD The review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. The literature was reviewed using the PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus and Embase from inception to 1st April 2020. Out of 1,503 publications, a total of 13 papers were identified as being relevant for the review. RESULTS The 13 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were: four randomized control trials (RCTs); two non-randomized control trials, four case series, two feasibility studies and one case study. A narrative synthesis of the data suggested that CR interventions are potentially effective in improving social cognition and cognitive functioning in ASC. RCTs supported the efficacy of CR interventions in improving social cognition and executive functioning. Non-randomized control trials provided evidence for the effectiveness of social cognition remediation interventions in ASC. Case series and a case study have also supported the feasibility of CR interventions, including reflections on their adaptation for ASC populations and the positive feedback from participants. CONCLUSIONS CR interventions are potentially effective in improving social cognition and cognitive functioning in ASC. However, the generalizability of the included empirical studies was hampered by several methodological limitations. To further strengthen understandings of the effectiveness of CR interventions for ASC, future RCTs are needed with larger sample sizes in exploring the long-term effectiveness of CR interventions, using age-appropriate valid and reliable outcome measures. They should also consider the heterogeneity in neuropsychological functioning in ASC and the mediating and moderating mechanisms of the CR intervention for ASC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin Dandil
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Katherine Smith
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Kinnaird
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cindy Toloza
- Department of Psychology, National Eating Disorder Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Tchanturia
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, National Eating Disorder Service, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, Illia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia
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Haigh SM, Keller TA, Minshew NJ, Eack SM. Reduced White Matter Integrity and Deficits in Neuropsychological Functioning in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Res 2020; 13:702-714. [PMID: 32073209 DOI: 10.1002/aur.2271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently viewed as a disorder of cortical systems connectivity, with a heavy emphasis being on the structural integrity of white matter tracts. However, the majority of the literature to date has focused on children with ASD. Understanding the integrity of white matter tracts in adults may help reveal the nature of ASD pathology in adulthood and the potential contributors to cognitive impairment. This study examined white matter water diffusion using diffusion tensor imaging in relation to neuropsychological measures of cognition in a sample of 45 adults with ASD compared to 20 age, gender, and full-scale-IQ-matched healthy volunteers. Tract-based spatial statistics were used to assess differences in diffusion along white matter tracts between groups using permutation testing. The following neuropsychological measures of cognition were assessed: processing speed, attention vigilance, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition. Results indicated that fractional anisotropy (FA) was significantly reduced in adults with ASD in the anterior thalamic radiation (P = 0.022) and the right cingulum (P = 0.008). All neuropsychological measures were worse in the ASD group, but none of the measures significantly correlated with reduced FA in either tract in the adults with ASD or in the healthy volunteers. Together, this indicates that the tracts that are the most impacted in autism may not be (at least directly) responsible for the behavioral deficits in ASD. Autism Res 2020, 13: 702-714. © 2020 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY: White matter tracts are the data cables in the brain that efficiently transfer information, and damage to these tracts could be the cause for the abnormal behaviors that are associated with autism. We found that two long-range tracts (the anterior thalamic radiation and the cingulum) were both impaired in autism but were not directly related to the impairments in behavior. This suggests that the abnormal tracts and behavior are the effects of another underlying mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah M Haigh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Psychology and Integrative Neuroscience, University of Nevada, Reno, Nevada
| | - Timothy A Keller
- Department of Psychology, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Nancy J Minshew
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| | - Shaun M Eack
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.,School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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Leshem R, Icht M, Bentzur R, Ben-David BM. Processing of Emotions in Speech in Forensic Patients With Schizophrenia: Impairments in Identification, Selective Attention, and Integration of Speech Channels. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:601763. [PMID: 33281649 PMCID: PMC7691229 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.601763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with schizophrenia show deficits in recognition of emotions which may increase the risk of violence. This study explored how forensic patients with schizophrenia process spoken emotion by: (a) identifying emotions expressed in prosodic and semantic content separately, (b) selectively attending to one speech channel while ignoring the other, and (c) integrating the prosodic and the semantic channels, compared to non-clinical controls. Twenty-one forensic patients with schizophrenia and 21 matched controls listened to sentences conveying four emotions (anger, happiness, sadness, and neutrality) presented in semantic or prosodic channels, in different combinations. They were asked to rate how much they agreed that the sentences conveyed a predefined emotion, focusing on one channel or on the sentence as a whole. Forensic patients with schizophrenia performed with intact identification and integration of spoken emotions, but their ratings indicated reduced discrimination, larger failures of selective attention, and under-ratings of negative emotions, compared to controls. This finding doesn't support previous reports of an inclination to interpret social situations in a negative way among individuals with schizophrenia. Finally, current results may guide rehabilitation approaches matched to the pattern of auditory emotional processing presented by forensic patients with schizophrenia, improving social interactions and quality of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rotem Leshem
- Department of Criminology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Icht
- Department of Communication Disorders, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel
| | - Roni Bentzur
- Psychiatric Division, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - Boaz M Ben-David
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel.,Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Networks (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
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15
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Todorova GK, Hatton REM, Pollick FE. Biological motion perception in autism spectrum disorder: a meta-analysis. Mol Autism 2019; 10:49. [PMID: 31890147 PMCID: PMC6921539 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-019-0299-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Biological motion, namely the movement of others, conveys information that allows the identification of affective states and intentions. This makes it an important avenue of research in autism spectrum disorder where social functioning is one of the main areas of difficulty. We aimed to create a quantitative summary of previous findings and investigate potential factors, which could explain the variable results found in the literature investigating biological motion perception in autism. Methods A search from five electronic databases yielded 52 papers eligible for a quantitative summarisation, including behavioural, eye-tracking, electroencephalography and functional magnetic resonance imaging studies. Results Using a three-level random effects meta-analytic approach, we found that individuals with autism generally showed decreased performance in perception and interpretation of biological motion. Results additionally suggest decreased performance when higher order information, such as emotion, is required. Moreover, with the increase of age, the difference between autistic and neurotypical individuals decreases, with children showing the largest effect size overall. Conclusion We highlight the need for methodological standards and clear distinctions between the age groups and paradigms utilised when trying to interpret differences between the two populations.
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Ben-David BM, Ben-Itzchak E, Zukerman G, Yahav G, Icht M. The Perception of Emotions in Spoken Language in Undergraduates with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Preserved Social Skill. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 50:741-756. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04297-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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17
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Oron Y, Levy O, Avivi-Reich M, Goldfarb A, Handzel O, Shakuf V, Ben-David BM. Tinnitus affects the relative roles of semantics and prosody in the perception of emotions in spoken language. Int J Audiol 2019; 59:195-207. [DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2019.1677952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yahav Oron
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head, Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Oren Levy
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
| | - Meital Avivi-Reich
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
- Communication Arts, Sciences and Disorders, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
| | - Abraham Goldfarb
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Ophir Handzel
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head, Neck and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Vered Shakuf
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
| | - Boaz M. Ben-David
- Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center (IDC), Herzliya, Israel
- Department of Speech-Language Pathology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, University Health Networks (UHN), Toronto, ON, Canada
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18
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Psychometric Characteristics of the DANVA-2 in High-Functioning Children with ASD. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:4147-4158. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04130-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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19
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Velikonja T, Fett AK, Velthorst E. Patterns of Nonsocial and Social Cognitive Functioning in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Psychiatry 2019; 76:135-151. [PMID: 30601878 PMCID: PMC6439743 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Many studies have investigated impairments in cognitive domains in adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Yet, to date, a comprehensive overview on the patterns of cognitive functioning is lacking. OBJECTIVE To provide an overview of nonsocial and social cognitive functioning in various domains in adults with ASD, allowing for comparison of the severity of deficits between different domains. DATA SOURCES A literature search performed in an academic medical setting was conducted using PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and Medline databases with the combination of the following free-text and Medical Subject Headings where applicable: [cogniti* OR neurocogniti* OR neuropsycholog* OR executive function* OR IQ OR intelligence quotient OR social cognition OR emotion perception OR affect perception OR emotion recognition OR attribution OR ToM OR mentalising OR mentalizing OR prosody OR social knowledge OR mind reading OR social cue OR social judgment] AND [autis* OR ASD OR Asperger OR Asperger's OR PDD OR pervasive developmental disorder]. The search was further limited to studies published between 1980 (first inclusion of autism diagnosis in the DSM-III) and July 2018. STUDY SELECTION Studies included were published as a primary peer-reviewed research article in English, included individuals with ASD 16 years or older, and assessed at least 1 domain of neurocognitive functioning or social cognition using standard measures. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS Of 9892 articles identified and screened, 75 met the inclusion criteria for the systematic review and meta-analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Hedges g effect sizes were computed, and random-effects models were used for all analyses. Moderators of between-study variability in effect sizes were assessed using meta-regressions. RESULTS The systematic review and meta-analysis included 75 studies, with a combined sample of 3361 individuals with ASD (mean [SD] age, 32.0 [9.3] years; 75.9% male) and 5344 neurotypical adults (mean [SD] age, 32.3 [9.1] years; 70.1% male). Adults with ASD showed large impairments in theory of mind (g = -1.09; 95% CI, -1.25 to -0.92; number of studies = 39) and emotion perception and processing (g = -0.80; 95% CI, -1.04 to -0.55; n = 18), followed by medium impairments in processing speed (g = -0.61; 95% CI, -0.83 to -0.38; n = 21) and verbal learning and memory (g = -0.55; 95% CI, -0.86 to -0.25; n = 12). The least altered cognitive domains were attention and vigilance (g = -0.30; 95% CI, -0.81 to 0.21; n = 5) and working memory (g = -0.23; 95% CI, -0.47 to 0.01; n = 19). Meta-regressions confirmed robustness of the results. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that adults with ASD show impairments in social cognitive domains and in specific nonsocial cognitive domains. These findings contribute to the understanding of the patterns of cognitive functioning in adults with ASD and may assist in the identification of targets for cognitive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tjasa Velikonja
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York,The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
| | - Anne-Kathrin Fett
- Department of Psychology, City University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eva Velthorst
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York,The Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York
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20
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Eack SM, Hogarty SS, Greenwald DP, Litschge MY, Porton SA, Mazefsky CA, Minshew NJ. Cognitive enhancement therapy for adult autism spectrum disorder: Results of an 18-month randomized clinical trial. Autism Res 2017; 11:519-530. [PMID: 29286586 DOI: 10.1002/aur.1913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive remediation is a promising approach to treating core cognitive deficits in adults with autism, but rigorously controlled trials of comprehensive interventions that target both social and non-social cognition over a sufficient period of time to impact functioning are lacking. This study examined the efficacy of cognitive enhancement therapy (CET) for improving core cognitive and employment outcomes in adult autism. Verbal adult outpatients with autism spectrum disorder (N = 54) were randomized to an 18-month, single-blind trial of CET, a cognitive remediation approach that integrates computer-based neurocognitive training with group-based training in social cognition, or an active enriched supportive therapy (EST) comparison focused on psychoeducation and condition management. Primary outcomes were composite indexes of neurocognitive and social-cognitive change. Competitive employment was a secondary outcome. Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that CET produced significant differential increases in neurocognitive function relative to EST (d = .46, P = .013). Both CET and EST were associated with large social-cognitive improvements, with CET demonstrating an advantage at 9 (d = .58, P = 0.020), but not 18 months (d = .27, P = 0.298). Effects on employment indicated that participants treated with CET were significantly more likely to gain competitive employment than those in EST, OR = 6.21, P = 0.023, which was mediated by cognitive improvement. CET is a feasible and potentially effective treatment for core cognitive deficits in adult autism spectrum disorder. The treatment of cognitive impairments in this population can contribute to meaningful improvements in adult outcomes. Autism Res 2018, 11: 519-530. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. LAY SUMMARY Cognitive enhancement therapy (CET), an 18-month cognitive remediation intervention designed to improve thinking and social understanding, was found to be more effective than supportive therapy at improving mental quickness, attention, and employment in adults living with autism. Social understanding was equally improved in CET and supportive therapy. Cognitive remediation interventions are feasible and may confer significant functional benefits to adults with autism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun M Eack
- School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Susan S Hogarty
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Deborah P Greenwald
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Maralee Y Litschge
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Shannondora A Porton
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Carla A Mazefsky
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Nancy J Minshew
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA.,Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
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'Emotiplay': a serious game for learning about emotions in children with autism: results of a cross-cultural evaluation. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2017; 26:979-992. [PMID: 28275895 DOI: 10.1007/s00787-017-0968-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) experience difficulties recognizing others' emotions and mental states. It has been shown that serious games (SG) can produce simplified versions of the socio-emotional world. The current study performed a cross-cultural evaluation (in the UK, Israel and Sweden) of Emotiplay's SG, a system aimed to teach emotion recognition (ER) to children with ASC in an entertaining, and intrinsically motivating way. Participants were 6-9 year olds with high functioning ASC who used the SG for 8-12 weeks. Measures included face, voice, body, and integrative ER tasks, as well as parent-reported level of autism symptoms, and adaptive socialization. In the UK, 15 children were tested before and after using the SG. In Israel (n = 38) and Sweden (n = 36), children were randomized into a SG or a waiting list control group. In the UK, results revealed that 8 weeks of SG use significantly improved participants' performance on ER body language and integrative tasks. Parents also reported their children improved their adaptive socialization. In Israel and Sweden, participants using the SG improved significantly more than controls on all ER measures. In addition, parents in the Israeli SG group reported their children showed reduced autism symptoms after using the SG. In conclusion, Emotiplay's SG is an effective and motivating psycho-educational intervention, cross-culturally teaching ER from faces, voices, body language, and their integration in context to children with high functioning ASC. Local evidence was found for more generalized gains to socialization and reduced autism symptoms.
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22
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Fridenson-Hayo S, Berggren S, Lassalle A, Tal S, Pigat D, Bölte S, Baron-Cohen S, Golan O. Basic and complex emotion recognition in children with autism: cross-cultural findings. Mol Autism 2016; 7:52. [PMID: 28018573 PMCID: PMC5168820 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-016-0113-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have emotion recognition deficits when tested in different expression modalities (face, voice, body). However, these findings usually focus on basic emotions, using one or two expression modalities. In addition, cultural similarities and differences in emotion recognition patterns in children with ASC have not been explored before. The current study examined the similarities and differences in the recognition of basic and complex emotions by children with ASC and typically developing (TD) controls across three cultures: Israel, Britain, and Sweden. METHODS Fifty-five children with high-functioning ASC, aged 5-9, were compared to 58 TD children. On each site, groups were matched on age, sex, and IQ. Children were tested using four tasks, examining recognition of basic and complex emotions from voice recordings, videos of facial and bodily expressions, and emotional video scenarios including all modalities in context. RESULTS Compared to their TD peers, children with ASC showed emotion recognition deficits in both basic and complex emotions on all three modalities and their integration in context. Complex emotions were harder to recognize, compared to basic emotions for the entire sample. Cross-cultural agreement was found for all major findings, with minor deviations on the face and body tasks. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the multimodal nature of ER deficits in ASC, which exist for basic as well as complex emotions and are relatively stable cross-culturally. Cross-cultural research has the potential to reveal both autism-specific universal deficits and the role that specific cultures play in the way empathy operates in different countries.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve Berggren
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Amandine Lassalle
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA USA
| | - Shahar Tal
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Delia Pigat
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sven Bölte
- Center of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (KIND), Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Center of Psychiatry Research, Stockholm County Council, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Simon Baron-Cohen
- Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ofer Golan
- Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
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Roubertoux PL, Carlier M, Tordjman S. Deficit in Social Relationships and Reduced Field of Interest in Mice. ORGANISM MODELS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2250-5_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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