Slowing down facial movements and vocal sounds enhances facial expression recognition and facial-vocal imitation in children with autism

authors

• Tardif Carole
• Lainé France
• Rodriguez Mélissa
• Gepner Bruno

keywords

• Autism
• Emotional facial expression
• Expression recognition
• Facial imitation
• Facial movements
• Vocal sounds
• Slowing down
• Synchrony
• Connectivity
• Reeducation

abstract

This study examined the effects of slowing down presentation of facial expressions and their corresponding vocal sounds on facial expression recognition and facial and/or vocal imitation in children with autism. Twelve autistic children and twenty-four normal control children were presented with emotional and non-emotional facial expressions on CD-Rom, under audio or silent conditions, and under dynamic visual conditions (slowly, very slowly, at normal speed) plus a static control. Overall, children with autism showed lower performance in expression recognition and more facial-vocal imitation than controls. Facial expression recognition and facial-vocal imitation were significantly enhanced in slow conditions. Findings may give new perspectives for understanding and intervention for verbal and emotional perceptive and communicative impairments in autistic populations.

more information