Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Face Recognition in Children with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified

  • Published:
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study investigates the accuracy and speed of face recognition in children with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PDDNOS; DSM-IV, American – Psychiatric Association [APA], 1994). The study includes a clinical group of 26 nonretarded 7- to 10-year-old children with PDDNOS and a control group of 65 normally developing children of the same age. Two computerized reaction time tasks were administered: a face recognition task and a control task designed to measure the recognition of abstract visuospatial patterns. The latter were either easy or difficult to distinguish from a set of alternative patterns. The normally developing children recognized the faces much faster than the hardly distinguishable abstract patterns. The children in the PDDNOS group needed an amount of time to recognize the faces that almost equalled the time they needed to recognize the abstract patterns that were difficult to distinguish. The results suggest that, when processing faces, children with PDDNOS use a strategy that is more attention-demanding and, hence, less automatic or “Gestalt-like” than the one used by the control children. The results are discussed in the light of a theory that explains the development of coherent mental representations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aasman, J., Wijers, A. A., Mulder, G., & Mulder, L. J. M. (1988). Measuring mental fatigue in normal daily working routines. In P. A. Hancock & N. Meshkati (Eds.), Human mental workload (pp. 117-138). New York: North Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Althaus, M., De Sonneville, L. M. J., Minderaa, R. B., Hensen, L. G. N., & Til, H. B. (1996a). Information processing and aspects of visual attention in children with the DSM-III-R diagnosis “Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified” (PDDNOS): I. Focused and divided attention. Child Neuropsychology, 2, 17-29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Althaus, M., De Sonneville, L. M. J., Minderaa, R. B., Hensen, L. G. N., & Til, H. B. (1996b). Information processing and aspects of visual attention in children with the DSM-III-R diagnosis “Pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified” (PDDNOS): II. Sustained attention. Child Neuropsychology, 2, 30-38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Althaus, M., Mulder, L. J. M., Mulder, G., Aarnoudse, C. C., & Minderaa, R. B. (1999). Cardiac adaptivity to attention-demanding tasks in children with a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDDNOS). Biological Psychiatry, 46, 799-809.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Althaus, M., Mulder, L. J. M., Mulder, G., Van Roon, A., & Minderaa, R. B. (1998). Influence of respiratory activity on the cardiac response pattern to mental effort. Psychophysiology, 35, 420-430.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Althaus, M., Mulder, L. J. M., Van Roon, A., & Minderaa, R. B. (2001). Autonomous nervous response patterns during the active processing of information in children with autistic-type behaviour problems. Acta Neuropsychatrica, 13, 104-111.

    Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baddeley, A. (1992). Working Memory. Science, 255, 556-559.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barkley, R. A. (1998) Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. A handbook for diagnosis and treatment. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barrera, M. E., & Maurer, D. (1981) Recognition of mother's photographed face by the three-month-old infant. Child Development, 52, 714-716.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boucher, J., & Lewis, V. (1992). Unfamiliar face recognition in relatively able autistic children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 33, 843-859.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Burgard, P., Rey, F., Rupp, R., Abadie, V., & Rey, J. (1997). Neuropsychologic functions of early treated patients with phenylketonuria, on and off diet: Results of a cross national and cross-sectional study. Pediatric Research, 41, 368-374.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carey, S., & Diamond, R. (1994) Are faces perceived as configurations more by adults than by children? Visual Cognition, 1, 253-274.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, K. B., Naritoku, D. K., Smith, D. C., Browing, R. A., & Jensen, R. A. (1999). Enhanced recognition memory following vagus nerve stimulation in human subjects. Nature Neuroscience, 2, 94-98.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Damasio, A. R. (1994). Descartes error. Emotion, reason and the human brain. New York: Avon Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davies, S., Bishop, D., Manstead, A. S. R., & Tantam, D. (1994). Face perception in children with autism and Asperger's syndrome. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35, 1033-1057.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Gelder, B., Vroomen, J., & Van Der Heide, L. (1991). Face recognition and lip-reading in autism. European Journal of Cognitive Psychology, 3, 69-86.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Sonneville, L. M. J. (1999). Amsterdam Neuropsychological Tasks: A computer-aided assessment program. In B. P. L. M. den Brinker, P. J. Beek, A. N. Brand, S. J. Maarse, & L. J. M. Mulder (Eds). Cognitive ergonomics, clinical assessment and computer-assisted learning: Computers in psychology, Vol. 6 (pp. 204-217). Lisse: Swets & Zeitlinger.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Sonneville, L. M. J., Geeraets, M. H. W., & Woestenburg, J. C. (1993). Information processing in children with minor neurological dysfunction: Behavioural and neuropsychological indices. Early Human Development, 34, 69-78.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • De Sonneville, L. M. J., & Njiokiktjien, C. (1988). Pediatric behavioural neurology, vol.; Aspects of information processing: A computer-based approach to development and disorders. Amsterdam: Suyi.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Sonneville, L. M. J., Visser, M., & Licht, R. (1999). Attention and information processing in 4 and 5 year old children: Results of a computerized assessment technique. In B. L. M. P. van Beek, A. P. Hollander, & R. T. Nieuwboer (Eds.), Proceeding 6th workshop computers in psychology. Amsterdam: IFBK.

    Google Scholar 

  • De Sonneville, L. M. J., Verschoor, C. A., Nijokiktjien, C., Op het Veld, V., Toorenaar, N., & Vranken, M. (2002). Facial identity and facial emotions: Speed, accuracy and processing strategies in children and adults. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 24, 200-213.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Durkin, K. (1995). Developmental social psychology. Cambridge: Blackwell.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehlers, S., & Gillberg, C. L. (1993). The epidemiology of Asperger's syndrome. A total population study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 1327-1350.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ellis, H. D. (1990). Developmental trends in face recognition. The Psychologist, 3, 114-119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fisk, A. D., & Schneider, W. (1981). Controlled and automatic processing during tasks requiring sustained attention. A new approach to vigilance. Human Factors, 23, 737-750.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fombonne, E. (1999). The epidemiology of autism: A review. Psychological Medicine, 29, 769-786.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frith, U., & Happé, F. (1994). Beyond ‘theory of mind’. Cognition, 50, 115-132.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Happé, F. (1999). Autism: cognitive deficit of cognitive style? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 3, 216-222.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hobson, R. P. (1993). Autism and the development of mind. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hobson, R. P., Ouston, J., & Lee, A. (1988). What's in a face? The case of autism. British Journal of Psychology, 79, 601-623.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jensen, V. K., Larrieu, J. A., & Mack, K. K. (1997). Differential diagnosis between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified. Clinical Pediatrics, 36, 555-561.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klin, A., Sparrow, S. S., de Bildt, A., Cicchetti, D. V., Cohen, D. J., & Volkmar, F. R. (1999). A normed study of face recognition in autism and related disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 29, 499-508.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langdell, T. (1978). Recognition of faces: an approach to the study of autism. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 19, 255-268.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • LeDoux, J. E. (1996). The emotional brain: The mysterious underpinnings of emotional life. New York: Simon & Schuster.

    Google Scholar 

  • Luteijn, E., Jackson, A. E., Volkmar, F. R., & Minderaa, R. B. (1998). Brief report: The development of the children's social behavior questionnaire, preliminary data. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 28, 559-565.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Luteijn, E., Luteijn, F., Jackson, S., Volkmar, F. R., & Minderaa, R. B. (2000). The Children's Social Behavior Questionnaire for Milder Variants of PDD Problems: Evaluation of psychometric characteristics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30, 317-330.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Minderaa, R. B., & Engeland, H. van (1992). Pervasieve ontwikkelingsstoornissen: autisme an aan autisme verwante contactstoornissen. In F. C. Verhulst & F. Verheij (Eds.), Kinder-en jugdpsychiatrie: Onderzoek en diagostiek (pp. 380-398). Assen, The Netherlands: van Gorcum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miyashita, T. (1988). Discrimination of facial components in autistic children. Japanese Journal of Psychology, 59, 206-212.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder, G. (1983). The information processing paradigm: Concepts, methods and limitations. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 24, 19-35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, C. A., & Horowitz, F. D. (1983). The perception of facial expressions and stimulus motion by 2-and 5-month-old infants using holographic stimuli. Child Development, 54, 889-909.

    Google Scholar 

  • Njiokiktjien, C., Verschoor, A., De Sonneville, L., Huyser, C., Op het Veld, V., & Toorenaar, N. (2001). Disordered recognition of facial identity and emotions in three Asperger type autists. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 10, 79-90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parasuraman, R. (1998). The attentive brain. Issues and perspectives. In R. Parasuraman (Ed.), The attentive brain (pp. 222-256). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perry, R. (1998). Misdiagnosed ADD/ADHD; Rediagnosed PDD. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 113-114.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pietz, J., Landwehr, R., Kutscha, A., Schmidt, H., De Sonneville, L. M. J., & Trefz, F. K. (1995). Effects of high-dose tyrosine supplementation on brain function in adults with phenylketonuria. Journal of Pediatrics, 127, 936-943.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porges, S. W., Doussard-Roosevelt, J. A., Portales, A. L., & Greenspan, S. I. (1996). Infant regulation of the vagal ‘brake’ predicts child behavior problems: A psychobiological model of social behavior. Developmental Psychobiology, 29, 697-712.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Porges, S. W., Walter, G. F., & Korb, R. J. (1975). Influences of methylphenidate on heart rate and behavioral measures of attention in hyperactive children. Child Development, 46, 727-733.

    Google Scholar 

  • Redondo, M., & Del Valle-Inclan, F. (1992). Decrements in heart rate variability during memory search. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 13, 29-35.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, E. (1994). Der Einfluss des aktuellen Phenylalanin-Blutspiegels bei frübehandelten erwachsenen Phenylkentonuriepatienten auf die Informationsverarbeitung. PhD thesis. Universtät Heidelberg, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schultz, R. T., Gauthier, I., Klin, A., Fullbright, R. K., Anderson, A. W., Volkmar, F., Skudlarski, P., Lacadie, C., Cohen, D. J., & Gore, J. C. (2000). Abnormal ventral temporal cortical activity during face discrimination among individuals with autism and Asperger syndrome. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57, 331-340.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Serra, M., Minderaa, R. B., Van Geert, P. L. C., Jackson, A. E., Althaus, M., & Til, H. B. (1995). Emotional role-taking abilities of children with a pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 36, 475-490.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shiffrin, R. M., & Schneider, W. (1977). Controlled and automatic human information processing: Detection, search and attention. Psychological Review, 84, 1-66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg, J. R. (1969). Discovery of processing stages: Extension of Donders' method. In W. G. Kostes (Ed.), Attention and performance, Vol. 2 (pp. 276-315). Amsterdam: North Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tantam, D., Monaghan, L., Nicholson, H., & Stirling, J. (1989). Autistic children's ability to interpret faces: A research note. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 30, 623-630.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Towbin, K. A. (1997). Pervasive developmental disorders not otherwise specified. In D. J. Cohen & F. R. Volkmar (Eds.), Handbook of autism and developmental disorders (pp. 123-147). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Verhulst, F. C., van der Ede, J., & Koot, J. M. (1996). Handleiding voor de CBCL/4–18 (Nederlandse versie). Rotterdam: Afdeling kinder-en jeugdpsychiatrie, Sophia kinderziekenhuis/Academisch Ziekenhuis Rotterdam/Erasmus universiteit Rotterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmar, F. R. (1987). Social development. In D. J. Cohen & A. Donnellan (Eds.), Handbook of autism and developmental disorders (pp. 41-60). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmar, F. R., Carter, A., Grossman, J., & Klin, A. (1997). Social development in autism. In D. J. Cohen & F. R. Volkmar (Eds.), Handbook of autism and developmental disorders (pp. 173-194). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkmar, F. R., & Mayes, L. C. (1990). Gaze behavior in autism. Developmental Psychopathology, 2, 61-70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1988). The continuum of autistic characteristics. In E. Schopler & G. B. Mesibov (Eds.), Diagnosis and assessment of autism (pp. 91-110). New York: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1996). The autism spectrum. A guide for parents and professionals. London: Constable.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Centre for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Groningen, The Netherlands

    M. Serra, M. Althaus & R. B. Minderaa

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    L. M. J. de Sonneville

  3. Department of Developmental Psychology, State University Groningen, The Netherlands

    A. D. Stant & A. E. Jackson

Authors
  1. M. Serra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. Althaus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. M. J. de Sonneville
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. A. D. Stant
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. E. Jackson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. B. Minderaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Serra.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Serra, M., Althaus, M., de Sonneville, L.M.J. et al. Face Recognition in Children with a Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified. J Autism Dev Disord 33, 303–317 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024458618172

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024458618172

Search

Navigation