Social cognition in children with PDD-NOS
Objective: Social cognition is a crucial component of healthy development. A core deficit in children with autism spectrum disorders such as Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) relates to social cognition, including face recognition and emotion processing. However, only a handful of studies have examined face and emotion processing abilities in this heterogeneous, yet large group of children. We examine face recognition and emotion-processing ability in children with PDD-NOS. Methods: Sixty-two children with PDD-NOS, identified using explicit research criteria (mean age=9.08 years, S.D.=1.86), completed subtests of the Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks (ANT) (deSonneville, 1999). These subtests provided computerised assessments of pattern recognition, face recognition, emotion recognition. The full WISC-R was administered, and mental age (MA) was calculated. Results: Our results were consistent with previous reports of a more detail-focused strategy of face-processing in children with PDD-NOS. Children with PDD-NOS were less accurate in face recognition compared to complex pattern recognition, even after controlling for mental age. In relation to emotion-processing, children with PDD-NOS appeared to have the most difficulty in recognising sad expressions, compared to happy, angry, or fearful expressions. The effect of MA was highly significant for face and emotion processing. A higher MA was associated with faster and more accurate performance.
Conclusions: Results demonstrate specific difficulties in social cognition experienced by this heterogeneous group of PDD-NOS children, evident through a more detailed-focused face-processing strategy, and specific difficulties in recognising sad expressions. MA may play an important role in social cognition in this population.