Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Exploring the Use of Isolated Expressions and Film Clips to Evaluate Emotion Recognition by People with Traumatic Brain Injury
05:51

Exploring the Use of Isolated Expressions and Film Clips to Evaluate Emotion Recognition by People with Traumatic Brain Injury

Published on: May 15, 2016

Social functioning and facial expression recognition in survivors of pediatric brain tumors

Melanie J Bonner1, Kristina K Hardy, Victoria W Willard

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, DUMC Box 3527, Durham, NC 27710, USA. bonne002@mc.duke.edu

Journal of Pediatric Psychology
|April 9, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Survivors of pediatric brain tumors (BT) show impaired social functioning and difficulty recognizing facial expressions compared to children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). These social deficits are significant and measurable.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Pediatric brain tumors (BT) can impact cognitive and social development.
  • Social functioning and facial expression recognition are crucial for peer interactions and overall well-being.
  • Understanding these deficits in BT survivors is essential for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare social functioning and facial expression recognition skills in pediatric brain tumor survivors versus children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).
  • To identify factors influencing facial expression recognition in pediatric brain tumor survivors.

Main Methods:

  • Assessed 51 BT survivors and 31 JRA patients using a facial expression recognition task, social functioning questionnaires, and an IQ screener.
  • Controlled for estimated IQ in the analysis of facial expression interpretation.
  • Examined the predictive role of therapy history and diagnosis age on facial recognition performance.

Main Results:

  • BT survivors made significantly more errors in interpreting adult facial expressions than JRA patients, even after controlling for IQ.
  • Therapy history and age at diagnosis predicted performance on the child-specific facial recognition task.
  • BT survivors exhibited significantly impaired social functioning across multiple measures compared to JRA patients.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric BT survivors demonstrate significant social functioning deficits relative to an illness comparison group (JRA).
  • Facial expression recognition errors are a quantifiable indicator of social deficits in pediatric BT survivors.
  • These findings highlight the need for interventions addressing social and emotional processing in pediatric brain tumor survivors.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome08:31

Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome

Published on: July 31, 2016

Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer19:53

Single-stage Dynamic Reanimation of the Smile in Irreversible Facial Paralysis by Free Functional Muscle Transfer

Published on: March 1, 2015

Related Concept Videos

Prosopagnosia01:24

Prosopagnosia

Prosopagnosia, also known as face blindness, is the inability to recognize faces. In severe cases, individuals with prosopagnosia may not recognize close family members, including parents and spouses, by their faces. For instance, someone with prosopagnosia might walk past their child in a crowd, only realizing their mistake upon noticing their child's distinctive backpack or favorite jacket. Prosopagnosia specifically impairs facial recognition, while the recognition of other objects or...
Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction01:28

Traumatic Brain Injury l: Introduction

DefinitionTraumatic brain injury, or TBI, is a disturbance of normal brain function induced by an external mechanical force, such as a direct blow to the head or a penetrating injury. It can affect both brain structure and function, producing a wide range of clinical outcomes. TBI is a heterogeneous condition, meaning its effects may differ based on the type, location, and severity of the injury.Basis of ClassificationTBI is classified based on severity, injury mechanism, or pathophysiology. In...
Facial Feedback Hypothesis01:24

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Charles Darwin proposed that facial expressions are an evolutionary adaptation for communication. He argued that these expressions are not influenced by culture but are universal across species. For example, a snarling expression with exposed teeth signals a threat in many animals, including humans. Darwin also suggested that displaying an emotion can intensify the feeling. Smiling, for example, could enhance one's sense of happiness. This idea laid the foundation for understanding the role of...