Both Of These Studies Focused On How Well Children With Autism Can Distinguish Between Faces.docx

Both of these studies focused on how well children with Autism can distinguish between faces. Both studies found that those with Autism have some difficulties when faces are broke down into specific parts. Joseph and Tanaka (2002) extended from Hobson, Ouston, and Lee (1988) and the results appeared to indicate that those with autism use mouths for determining facial expression more than eyes. They discussed possible theories for this, ranging from the lack of experience interpreting eye expressions as those with autism often have an aversion to eyes to neurological differences. One of the possible neurological differences that was discussed was decreased activity in the fusiform gyrus, an area that coordinates facial perception and memory. This same area has reduced activity in those who suffer from prosopagnosia, a disorder where the person is unable to recognize faces. Given this, what do you think is the reason that those with Autism have difficulty? Is it because they have an aversion to eye contact and as such did not learn how to properly interpret eye expressions the way they may have learned how to interpret mouth expressions? Or do you think it is due to neurological differences in specific areas of the brain related to facial recognition? Both? Does knowing that those with Autism were better able to interpret inversed faces than typically developing children in these studies change what you think? Do you think it is possible for us to really know where the facial and emotional recognition difficulties arise?