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Autistic people s ability to accurately identify facial expressions is affected by the speed at which the expression is produced and its intensity, according to new research at the University of Birmingham.
In particular, autistic people tend to be less able to accurately identify anger from facial expressions produced at a normal real world speed. The researchers also found that for people with a related disorder, alexithymia, all expressions appeared more intensely emotional.
The question of how people with autism recognise and relate to emotional expression has been debated by scientists for more than three decades and it s only in the past 10 years that the relationship between autism and alexithymia has been explored.
We identified that autistic people had a specific difficulty recognizing anger, which we are starting to think may relate to differences in the way autistic and non-autistic people produce these expressions, said Connor Keating, a researcher in the University of Birmingham s School of Psychology and Centre for Human Brain Health. If this is true, it may not be accurate to talk about autistic people as having an impairment or deficit in recognizing emotion it s more that autistic and non-autistic faces may be speaking a different language when it comes to conveying emotion.
The researchers also discovered that people with a related condition, alexithymia, tend to interpret all types of expressions as more intensely emotional than they actually are.
Sarah Shepherd
ROCKLAND- The following cases were closed in Knox County Unified Court from Dec. 28-Jan. 11.
Jessica Alberti, 37, of Appleton, criminal mischief in Thomaston June 22, 2020, four counts, all received unconditional discharge; assault in Thomaston June 22, 2020, $300 fine; refusing to submit to arrest or detention, physical force and criminal trespass in Thomaston June 22, 2020, all received unconditional discharge.
Caitlin Brann, 22, of Rockland, domestic violence assault in Thomaston Dec. 6, 2019, dismissed; assault in Thomaston Dec. 6, 2019, $300 fine.
David A. Carver, 45, of Rockland, probation violation for original conviction of theft by unauthorized taking or transfer, with priors, in Rockland June 13, 2019, probation continued, no sentence imposed.
Kimberly F. Chartier, 37, of Washington, criminal mischief in Washington Feb. 13, 2019, dismissed; domestic violence assault, two counts, and violating condition of release, all in Washington Sept. 27, 2019, all di