Abstract
Background
Although autism and callous-unemotional (CU) traits are distinct conditions, both are associated with difficulties in emotion recognition. However, it is unknown whether the emotion recognition difficulties characteristic of autism and CU traits are driven by comparable underpinning mechanisms.
Methods
We tested whether cueing to the eyes improved emotion recognition in relation to autistic and CU traits in a heterogeneous sample of children enhanced for social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Participants were 171 (n = 75 male) children aged 10–16 years with and without a diagnosis of autism (n = 99 autistic), who completed assessments of emotion recognition with and without cueing to the eyes. Parents completed the assessment of autistic and CU traits.
Results
Associations between autistic and CU traits and emotion recognition accuracy were dependent upon gaze cueing. CU traits were associated with an overall decrease in emotion recognition in the uncued condition, but better fear recognition when cued to the eyes. Conversely, autistic traits were associated with decreased emotion recognition in the cued condition only, and no interactions between autistic traits and emotion were found.
Conclusions
The differential effect of cueing to the eyes in autistic and CU traits suggests different mechanisms underpin emotion recognition abilities. Results suggest interventions designed to promote looking to the eyes may be beneficial for children with CU traits, but not for children with autistic characteristics. Future developmental studies of autism and CU characteristics are required to better understand how different pathways lead to overlapping socio-cognitive profiles.
Although autism and callous-unemotional (CU) traits are distinct conditions, both are associated with difficulties in emotion recognition. However, it is unknown whether the emotion recognition difficulties characteristic of autism and CU traits are driven by comparable underpinning mechanisms.
Methods
We tested whether cueing to the eyes improved emotion recognition in relation to autistic and CU traits in a heterogeneous sample of children enhanced for social, emotional and behavioural difficulties. Participants were 171 (n = 75 male) children aged 10–16 years with and without a diagnosis of autism (n = 99 autistic), who completed assessments of emotion recognition with and without cueing to the eyes. Parents completed the assessment of autistic and CU traits.
Results
Associations between autistic and CU traits and emotion recognition accuracy were dependent upon gaze cueing. CU traits were associated with an overall decrease in emotion recognition in the uncued condition, but better fear recognition when cued to the eyes. Conversely, autistic traits were associated with decreased emotion recognition in the cued condition only, and no interactions between autistic traits and emotion were found.
Conclusions
The differential effect of cueing to the eyes in autistic and CU traits suggests different mechanisms underpin emotion recognition abilities. Results suggest interventions designed to promote looking to the eyes may be beneficial for children with CU traits, but not for children with autistic characteristics. Future developmental studies of autism and CU characteristics are required to better understand how different pathways lead to overlapping socio-cognitive profiles.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 787-796 |
| Journal | Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Early online date | 12 Dec 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 May 2023 |
Bibliographical note
VCL was supported by a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship (213608/Z/18/Z), RB by a King’s Prize Fellowship (204823/Z/16/Z), ES and AP by the National Institute of Health Research (NF-SI-0514-10073, NF-SI-0617-10120) and Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London, and IPV and MRM by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (BRC-1215-20011). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UK NHS, NIHR, or the Department of Health and Social Care.Funding Information:
The authors are very grateful to all the families who took part in the C‐MAPS study. A.P. receives royalties from the SCQ. MRM and IPV are co‐directors of Jericoe Ltd, which produces software for the assessment and modification of emotion recognition. The remaining authors have declared that they have no competing or potential conflicts of interest. V.C.L. was supported by a Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Fellowship (213608/Z/18/Z), R.B. by a King's Prize Fellowship (204823/Z/16/Z), E.S. and A.P. by the National Institute of Health Research (NF‐SI‐0514‐10073, NF‐SI‐0617‐10120) and Biomedical Research Centre at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, and IPV and MRM by the NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust and the University of Bristol (BRC‐1215‐20011). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the UK NHS, NIHR or the Department of Health and Social Care. All parents gave consent for themselves and their children to take part, children also gave assent. Key points
Keywords
- Autism
- callous-unemotional
- emotion recognition
- eye gaze
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
- Developmental and Educational Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
