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Normal social cognition in developmental prosopagnosia
Bradley Duchaine1, Heidi Murray, Martha Turner
1University College London, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, London, UK. b.duchaine@ucl.ac.uk
Cognitive Neuropsychology
|March 2, 2010
Summary
Impaired face perception does not necessarily lead to social cognition deficits. This study found that individuals with developmental prosopagnosia (DP) showed normal social cognition, challenging theories linking face processing to autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Cognition Research
Background:
- Face perception is crucial for social cognition.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is often linked to face perception deficits.
- The developmental link between face processing and social cognition requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between face perception abilities and social cognition.
- To examine social cognition in individuals with developmental prosopagnosia (DP).
- To test the hypothesis that impaired face perception leads to social cognition impairments characteristic of ASD.
Main Methods:
- Studied social cognition in participants diagnosed with developmental prosopagnosia (DP).
- Assessed facial identity and facial expression recognition in DPs.
- Administered social cognition tests and an inventory for autistic traits to DPs.
Main Results:
- Two male DPs with severe deficits in facial identity and expression recognition showed no social cognition impairments.
- Ten additional DPs completed an inventory measuring autistic traits, with only one exhibiting abnormal results.
- Social cognition mechanisms can develop adequately despite developmental face-processing impairments.
Conclusions:
- Developmental prosopagnosia (DP) does not inherently cause social cognition deficits.
- The findings challenge etiological models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that posit face perception deficits as a primary cause of social impairments.
- Social cognition can develop independently of typical face perception abilities.
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