Journal
JOURNAL OF AUTISM AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
Volume 37, Issue 3, Pages 553-563Publisher
SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-006-0186-y
Keywords
young children with autism; developmental disabilities; empathy; emotional responsiveness
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Funding
- NICHD NIH HHS [P01/U19 HD035468] Funding Source: Medline
- NIMH NIH HHS [5 T32 MH15442-24, 2 T32 MH15780-20] Funding Source: Medline
- PHS HHS [2 T73 MC00011-04] Funding Source: Medline
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Twenty six children with autism, 24 children with developmental disabilities, and 15 typically developing children participated in tasks in which an adult displayed emotions. Child focus of attention, change in facial tone (i.e., hedonic tone), and latency to changes in tone were measured and summary scores of emotional contagion were created. Group differences existed in the ratio of episodes that resulted in emotional contagion. Correlations existed between measures of emotional contagion, measures of joint attention, and indices of severity of autism. Children with autism demonstrated muted changes in affect, but these responses occurred much less frequently than in comparison groups. The findings suggest directions for early identification and early treatment of autism.
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