Universität zu Köln

Neufeld, Janina ORCID: 0000-0002-7743-526X, Ioannou, Christina, Korb, Sebastian ORCID: 0000-0002-3517-3783, Schilbach, Leonhard ORCID: 0000-0001-5547-8309 and Chakrabarti, Bhismadev ORCID: 0000-0002-6649-7895 (2016). Spontaneous Facial Mimicry is Modulated by Joint Attention and Autistic Traits. Autism Res., 9 (7). S. 781 - 790. HOBOKEN: WILEY. ISSN 1939-3806

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Abstract

Joint attention (JA) and spontaneous facial mimicry (SFM) are fundamental processes in social interactions, and they are closely related to empathic abilities. When tested independently, both of these processes have been usually observed to be atypical in individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). However, it is not known how these processes interact with each other in relation to autistic traits. This study addresses this question by testing the impact of JA on SFM of happy faces using a truly interactive paradigm. Sixty-two neurotypical participants engaged in gaze-based social interaction with an anthropomorphic, gaze-contingent virtual agent. The agent either established JA by initiating eye contact or looked away, before looking at an object and expressing happiness or disgust. Eye tracking was used to make the agent's gaze behavior and facial actions contingent to the participants' gaze. SFM of happy expressions was measured by Electromyography (EMG) recording over the Zygomaticus Major muscle. Results showed that JA augments SFM in individuals with low compared with high autistic traits. These findings are in line with reports of reduced impact of JA on action imitation in individuals with ASC. Moreover, they suggest that investigating atypical interactions between empathic processes, instead of testing these processes individually, might be crucial to understanding the nature of social deficits in autism. (C) 2015 The Authors Autism Research published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Society for Autism Research

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Neufeld, Janina UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-7743-526X UNSPECIFIED Ioannou, Christina UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Korb, Sebastian UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-3517-3783 UNSPECIFIED Schilbach, Leonhard UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-5547-8309 UNSPECIFIED Chakrabarti, Bhismadev UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0002-6649-7895 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-271328
DOI:	10.1002/aur.1573
Journal or Publication Title:	Autism Res.
Volume:	9
Number:	7
Page Range:	S. 781 - 790
Date:	2016
Publisher:	WILEY
Place of Publication:	HOBOKEN
ISSN:	1939-3806
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language EYE-GAZE; FUNCTIONING AUTISM; EMOTIONAL MIMICRY; VISUAL-ATTENTION; SOCIAL COGNITION; SEX-DIFFERENCES; EMG EVIDENCE; SPECTRUM; CHILDREN; EXPRESSIONS Multiple languages Behavioral Sciences; Psychology, Developmental Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/27132