Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in:

21-11-2015 | Brief Report

Brief Report: Reduced Prioritization of Facial Threat in Adults with Autism

Auteurs: Noah J. Sasson, Jonathon R. Shasteen, Amy E. Pinkham

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders | Uitgave 4/2016

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Typically-developing (TD) adults detect angry faces more efficiently within a crowd than non-threatening faces. Prior studies of this social threat superiority effect (TSE) in ASD using tasks consisting of schematic faces and homogeneous crowds have produced mixed results. Here, we employ a more ecologically-valid test of the social TSE and find evidence of a reduced social TSE in adults with ASD (n = 21) relative to TD controls (n = 28). Unlike TD participants, the ASD group failed to show the normative advantage for detecting angry faces faster than happy faces, either within crowds of neutral or emotional faces. These findings parallel prior work indicating a reduced sensitivity in ASD to facial cues of untrustworthiness, and may reflect a vulnerability for evaluating social harm.
Literatuur
go back to reference Adolphs, R., Sears, L., & Piven, J. (2001). Abnormal processing of social information from faces in autism. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 13(2), 232–240.CrossRefPubMed Adolphs, R., Sears, L., & Piven, J. (2001). Abnormal processing of social information from faces in autism. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 13(2), 232–240.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Ashwin, C., Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., O’Riordan, M., & Bullmore, E. T. (2007). Differential activation of the amygdala and the ‘social brain’ during fearful face-processing in Asperger Syndrome. Neuropsychologia, 45(1), 2–14.CrossRefPubMed Ashwin, C., Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., O’Riordan, M., & Bullmore, E. T. (2007). Differential activation of the amygdala and the ‘social brain’ during fearful face-processing in Asperger Syndrome. Neuropsychologia, 45(1), 2–14.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Ashwin, C., Wheelwright, S., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2006). Finding a face in the crowd: Testing the anger superiority effect in Asperger Syndrome. Brain and Cognition, 61(1), 78–95.CrossRefPubMed Ashwin, C., Wheelwright, S., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2006). Finding a face in the crowd: Testing the anger superiority effect in Asperger Syndrome. Brain and Cognition, 61(1), 78–95.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17.CrossRefPubMed Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Skinner, R., Martin, J., & Clubley, E. (2001). The autism-spectrum quotient (AQ): Evidence from Asperger syndrome/high-functioning autism, males and females, scientists and mathematicians. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 31(1), 5–17.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Brown-Lavoie, S. M., Viecili, M. A., & Weiss, J. A. (2014). Sexual knowledge and victimization in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 2185–2196.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Brown-Lavoie, S. M., Viecili, M. A., & Weiss, J. A. (2014). Sexual knowledge and victimization in adults with autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 2185–2196.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Chevallier, C., Parish-Morris, J., McVey, A., Rump, K. M., Sasson, N. J., Herrington, J. D., & Schultz, R. T. (2015). Measuring social attention and motivation in autism spectrum disorder using eye-tracking: Stimulus type matters. Autism Research. doi:10.1002/aur.1479.PubMed Chevallier, C., Parish-Morris, J., McVey, A., Rump, K. M., Sasson, N. J., Herrington, J. D., & Schultz, R. T. (2015). Measuring social attention and motivation in autism spectrum disorder using eye-tracking: Stimulus type matters. Autism Research. doi:10.​1002/​aur.​1479.PubMed
go back to reference Clark, T. F., Winkielman, P., & McIntosh, D. N. (2008). Autism and the extraction of emotion from briefly presented facial expressions: Stumbling at the first step of empathy. Emotion, 8, 803–809. doi:10.1037/a0014124.CrossRefPubMed Clark, T. F., Winkielman, P., & McIntosh, D. N. (2008). Autism and the extraction of emotion from briefly presented facial expressions: Stumbling at the first step of empathy. Emotion, 8, 803–809. doi:10.​1037/​a0014124.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Damjanovic, L., Pinkham, A. E., Clarke, P., & Phillips, J. (2014). Enhanced threat detection in experienced riot police officers: Cognitive evidence from the face-in-the-crowd effect. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67(5), 1004–1018.CrossRef Damjanovic, L., Pinkham, A. E., Clarke, P., & Phillips, J. (2014). Enhanced threat detection in experienced riot police officers: Cognitive evidence from the face-in-the-crowd effect. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 67(5), 1004–1018.CrossRef
go back to reference Duncan, J., & Humphreys, G. W. (1989). Visual search and stimulus similarity. Psychological Review, 96, 433–458.CrossRefPubMed Duncan, J., & Humphreys, G. W. (1989). Visual search and stimulus similarity. Psychological Review, 96, 433–458.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1978). Manual of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press. Ekman, P., & Friesen, W. V. (1978). Manual of the Facial Action Coding System (FACS). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.
go back to reference Farran, E. K., Branson, A., & King, B. J. (2011). Visual search for basic emotional expressions in autism: Impaired processing of anger, fear and sadness, but a typical happy face advantage. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 455–462.CrossRef Farran, E. K., Branson, A., & King, B. J. (2011). Visual search for basic emotional expressions in autism: Impaired processing of anger, fear and sadness, but a typical happy face advantage. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(1), 455–462.CrossRef
go back to reference Gilboa-Schechtman, E., Foa, E. B., & Amir, N. (1999). Attentional biases for facial expressions in social phobia: The face-in-the-crowd paradigm. Cognition and Emotion, 13, 305–318. doi:10.1080/026999399379294.CrossRef Gilboa-Schechtman, E., Foa, E. B., & Amir, N. (1999). Attentional biases for facial expressions in social phobia: The face-in-the-crowd paradigm. Cognition and Emotion, 13, 305–318. doi:10.​1080/​026999399379294.CrossRef
go back to reference Grossman, J. B., Klin, A., Carter, A. S., & Volkmar, F. R. (2000). Verbal bias in recognition of facial emotions in children with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(03), 369–379.CrossRefPubMed Grossman, J. B., Klin, A., Carter, A. S., & Volkmar, F. R. (2000). Verbal bias in recognition of facial emotions in children with Asperger syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 41(03), 369–379.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Guillon, Q., Hadjikhani, N., Baduel, S., & Rogé, B. (2014). Visual social attention in autism spectrum disorder: Insights from eye tracking studies. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 42, 279–297.CrossRefPubMed Guillon, Q., Hadjikhani, N., Baduel, S., & Rogé, B. (2014). Visual social attention in autism spectrum disorder: Insights from eye tracking studies. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 42, 279–297.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Horstmann, G., & Bauland, A. (2006). Search asymmetries with real faces: Testing the anger-superiority effect. Emotion, 6(2), 193.CrossRefPubMed Horstmann, G., & Bauland, A. (2006). Search asymmetries with real faces: Testing the anger-superiority effect. Emotion, 6(2), 193.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Howard, M. A., Cowell, P. E., Boucher, J., Broks, P., Mayes, A., Farrant, A., & Roberts, N. (2000). Convergent neuroanatomical and behavioural evidence of an amygdala hypothesis of autism. Neuroreport, 11(13), 2931–2935.CrossRefPubMed Howard, M. A., Cowell, P. E., Boucher, J., Broks, P., Mayes, A., Farrant, A., & Roberts, N. (2000). Convergent neuroanatomical and behavioural evidence of an amygdala hypothesis of autism. Neuroreport, 11(13), 2931–2935.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Isomura, T., Ogawa, S., Yamada, S., Shibasaki, M., & Masataka, N. (2014). The effect of inversion on the anger superiority effect in children with and without autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Psychological Abnormalities in Children, 3, 117. doi:10.4172/2329-9525.1000117.CrossRef Isomura, T., Ogawa, S., Yamada, S., Shibasaki, M., & Masataka, N. (2014). The effect of inversion on the anger superiority effect in children with and without autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Psychological Abnormalities in Children, 3, 117. doi:10.​4172/​2329-9525.​1000117.CrossRef
go back to reference Kleinhans, N. M., Richards, T., Weaver, K., Johnson, L. C., Greenson, J., Dawson, G., & Aylward, E. (2010). Association between amygdala response to emotional faces and social anxiety in autism spectrum disorders. Neuropsychologia, 48(12), 3665–3670.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Kleinhans, N. M., Richards, T., Weaver, K., Johnson, L. C., Greenson, J., Dawson, G., & Aylward, E. (2010). Association between amygdala response to emotional faces and social anxiety in autism spectrum disorders. Neuropsychologia, 48(12), 3665–3670.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Kleinhans, N. M., Richards, T., Weaver, K. E., Liang, O., Dawson, G., & Aylward, E. (2009). Brief report: Biochemical correlates of clinical impairment in high functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(7), 1079–1086.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Kleinhans, N. M., Richards, T., Weaver, K. E., Liang, O., Dawson, G., & Aylward, E. (2009). Brief report: Biochemical correlates of clinical impairment in high functioning autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39(7), 1079–1086.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Krysko, K. M., & Rutherford, M. D. (2009). A threat-detection advantage in those with autism spectrum disorders. Brain and Cognition, 69(3), 472–480.CrossRefPubMed Krysko, K. M., & Rutherford, M. D. (2009). A threat-detection advantage in those with autism spectrum disorders. Brain and Cognition, 69(3), 472–480.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference LoBue, V., & DeLoache, J. S. (2008). Detecting the snake in the grass attention to fear-relevant stimuli by adults and young children. Psychological Science, 19(3), 284–289.CrossRefPubMed LoBue, V., & DeLoache, J. S. (2008). Detecting the snake in the grass attention to fear-relevant stimuli by adults and young children. Psychological Science, 19(3), 284–289.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Öhman, A. (2005). The role of the amygdala in human fear: Automatic detection of threat. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(10), 953–958.CrossRefPubMed Öhman, A. (2005). The role of the amygdala in human fear: Automatic detection of threat. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 30(10), 953–958.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Öhman, A., Flykt, A., & Esteves, F. (2001). Emotion drives attention: Detecting the snake in the grass. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130(3), 466.CrossRef Öhman, A., Flykt, A., & Esteves, F. (2001). Emotion drives attention: Detecting the snake in the grass. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130(3), 466.CrossRef
go back to reference Pelphrey, K. A., Sasson, N. J., Reznick, J., Paul, G., Goldman, B. D., & Piven, J. (2002). Visual scanning of faces in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 249–261.CrossRefPubMed Pelphrey, K. A., Sasson, N. J., Reznick, J., Paul, G., Goldman, B. D., & Piven, J. (2002). Visual scanning of faces in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 32, 249–261.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Pessoa, L., & Adolphs, R. (2010). Emotion processing and the amygdala: from a’low road’to’many roads’ of evaluating biological significance. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(11), 773–783.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Pessoa, L., & Adolphs, R. (2010). Emotion processing and the amygdala: from a’low road’to’many roads’ of evaluating biological significance. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(11), 773–783.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Pinkham, A. E., Griffin, M., Baron, R., Sasson, N. J., & Gur, R. C. (2010). The face in the crowd effect: Anger superiority when using real faces and multiple identities. Emotion, 10, 141–146. doi:10.1037/a0017387.CrossRefPubMed Pinkham, A. E., Griffin, M., Baron, R., Sasson, N. J., & Gur, R. C. (2010). The face in the crowd effect: Anger superiority when using real faces and multiple identities. Emotion, 10, 141–146. doi:10.​1037/​a0017387.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Pinkham, A. E., Hopfinger, J. B., Pelphrey, K. A., Piven, J., & Penn, D. L. (2008). Neural bases for impaired social cognition in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Schizophrenia Research, 99(1), 164–175.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Pinkham, A. E., Hopfinger, J. B., Pelphrey, K. A., Piven, J., & Penn, D. L. (2008). Neural bases for impaired social cognition in schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders. Schizophrenia Research, 99(1), 164–175.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Pinkham, A. E., Sasson, N. J., Kelsven, S., Simpson, C. E., Healey, K., & Kohler, C. (2014). An intact threat superiority effect for nonsocial but not social stimuli in schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123, 168–177.CrossRefPubMed Pinkham, A. E., Sasson, N. J., Kelsven, S., Simpson, C. E., Healey, K., & Kohler, C. (2014). An intact threat superiority effect for nonsocial but not social stimuli in schizophrenia. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 123, 168–177.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Rosset, D., Santos, A., Da Fonseca, D., Rondan, C., Poinso, F., & Deruelle, C. (2011). More than just another face in the crowd: Evidence for an angry superiority effect in children with and without autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(2), 949–956.CrossRef Rosset, D., Santos, A., Da Fonseca, D., Rondan, C., Poinso, F., & Deruelle, C. (2011). More than just another face in the crowd: Evidence for an angry superiority effect in children with and without autism. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 5(2), 949–956.CrossRef
go back to reference Rutherford, M. D., & McIntosh, D. N. (2007). Rules versus prototype matching: Strategies of perception of emotional facial expressions in the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(2), 187–196.CrossRefPubMed Rutherford, M. D., & McIntosh, D. N. (2007). Rules versus prototype matching: Strategies of perception of emotional facial expressions in the autism spectrum. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(2), 187–196.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Santos, A., Chaminade, T., Da Fonseca, D., Silva, C., Rosset, D., & Deruelle, C. (2012). Just another social scene: Evidence for decreased attention to negative social scenes in high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(9), 1790–1798.CrossRefPubMed Santos, A., Chaminade, T., Da Fonseca, D., Silva, C., Rosset, D., & Deruelle, C. (2012). Just another social scene: Evidence for decreased attention to negative social scenes in high-functioning autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(9), 1790–1798.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Sasson, N. J. (2006). The development of face processing in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 381–394.CrossRefPubMed Sasson, N. J. (2006). The development of face processing in autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36, 381–394.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Sasson, N. J., Pinkham, A. E., Carpenter, K. L., & Belger, A. (2011). The benefit of directly comparing autism and schizophrenia for revealing mechanisms of social cognitive impairment. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 3(2), 87–100.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Sasson, N. J., Pinkham, A. E., Carpenter, K. L., & Belger, A. (2011). The benefit of directly comparing autism and schizophrenia for revealing mechanisms of social cognitive impairment. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 3(2), 87–100.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Shasteen, J. R., Sasson, N. J., & Pinkham, A. E. (2014). Eye tracking the face in the crowd task: Why are angry faces found more quickly. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e93914.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Shasteen, J. R., Sasson, N. J., & Pinkham, A. E. (2014). Eye tracking the face in the crowd task: Why are angry faces found more quickly. PLoS ONE, 9(4), e93914.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference South, M., Ozonoff, S., Suchy, Y., Kesner, R. P., Mcmahon, W. M., & Lainhart, J. E. (2008). Intact emotion facilitation for nonsocial stimuli in autism: Is amygdala impairment in autism specific for social information? Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 14(01), 42–54.CrossRefPubMed South, M., Ozonoff, S., Suchy, Y., Kesner, R. P., Mcmahon, W. M., & Lainhart, J. E. (2008). Intact emotion facilitation for nonsocial stimuli in autism: Is amygdala impairment in autism specific for social information? Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 14(01), 42–54.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Teunisse, J. P., & de Gelder, B. (2001). Impaired categorical perception of facial expressions in high-functioning adolescents with autism. Child Neuropsychology, 7, 1–14.CrossRefPubMed Teunisse, J. P., & de Gelder, B. (2001). Impaired categorical perception of facial expressions in high-functioning adolescents with autism. Child Neuropsychology, 7, 1–14.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Uljarevic, M., & Hamilton, A. (2013). Recognition of emotions in autism: A formal meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(7), 1517–1526.CrossRefPubMed Uljarevic, M., & Hamilton, A. (2013). Recognition of emotions in autism: A formal meta-analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(7), 1517–1526.CrossRefPubMed
Metagegevens
Titel
Brief Report: Reduced Prioritization of Facial Threat in Adults with Autism
Auteurs
Noah J. Sasson
Jonathon R. Shasteen
Amy E. Pinkham
Publicatiedatum
21-11-2015
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders / Uitgave 4/2016
Print ISSN: 0162-3257
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-3432
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2664-6