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. 2022 Feb;52(2):674-688.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-021-04971-4. Epub 2021 Mar 20.

Face-Processing Performance is an Independent Predictor of Social Affect as Measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Across Large-Scale Datasets

Ivry Zagury-Orly  1   2 , Mallory R Kroeck  1 , Louis Soussand  1   3   4 , Alexander Li Cohen  5   6   7
Affiliations

Face-Processing Performance is an Independent Predictor of Social Affect as Measured by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Across Large-Scale Datasets

Ivry Zagury-Orly et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Face-processing deficits, while not required for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), have been associated with impaired social skills-a core feature of ASD; however, the strength and prevalence of this relationship remains unclear. Across 445 participants from the NIMH Data Archive, we examined the relationship between Benton Face Recognition Test (BFRT) performance and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Social Affect (ADOS-SA) scores. Lower BFRT scores (worse face-processing performance) were associated with higher ADOS-SA scores (higher ASD severity)-a relationship that held after controlling for other factors associated with face processing, i.e., age, sex, and IQ. These findings underscore the utility of face discrimination, not just recognition of facial emotion, as a key covariate for the severity of symptoms that characterize ASD.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Face discrimination; Face perception; Face processing; Social cognition; Social interaction.

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Figures

Fig 1:
Fig 1:
Face-processing performance compared to ADOS-Total, ADOS-SA, and ADOS-RRB scores across the entire study cohort.
Fig 2:
Fig 2:
Face-processing performance compared to ADOS-SA scores for male and female participants.
Fig 3:
Fig 3:
Face-processing performance compared to standardized IQ scores for all participants and for male and female participants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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