Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026
12:55
Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
9.1K
Using Metacognitive Methods to Examine Emotion Recognition in Children With ADHD
Alexandra Basile1, Maggie E Toplak1, Brendan F Andrade2,3
1York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Journal of Attention Disorders
|November 17, 2018
Summary
Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) showed higher confidence in emotion recognition (ER) but not accuracy compared to typically developing peers. Metacognitive performance indicated lower self-awareness in the ADHD group.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Cognitive Science
Background:
- Emotion recognition (ER) is crucial for social cognition.
- Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often exhibit social-cognitive challenges.
- Understanding metacognitive differences in ER is vital for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate confidence-accuracy associations in emotion recognition among children with ADHD and typically developing (TD) children.
- To compare metacognitive performance, specifically resolution, between the two groups.
- To explore the relationship between ADHD symptoms and metacognitive abilities.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 39 children with ADHD and 42 TD children (mean age 9 years, 11 months) completed an emotion recognition task.
- Intelligence and executive function tasks were administered to assess cognitive abilities.
- Confidence ratings were collected alongside accuracy on the ER task, and a metacognitive index was calculated.
Main Results:
- The ADHD group reported higher confidence in emotion recognition compared to the TD group, despite equivalent overall accuracy.
- Specifically, children with ADHD were more confident in identifying sad and angry facial expressions.
- The ADHD group demonstrated lower metacognitive resolution, indicating poorer discrimination between correct and incorrect responses, which correlated with symptom severity.
Conclusions:
- Confidence ratings on specific tasks can serve as an index for social-cognition in children with ADHD.
- Metacognitive deficits in emotion recognition may contribute to social difficulties experienced by children with ADHD.
- Targeted interventions addressing metacognitive skills could potentially improve social functioning in children with ADHD.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Metacognition
821
Metacognition is a conscious process where individuals are aware of their cognitive and executive processes, such as planning before solving a problem or self-monitoring during reading. For instance, a writer may need help with composing a piece. The situation involves a writer who is working on a piece of writing, but while doing so, they realize that something is missing. They notice that their characters lack depth or details. This realization occurs because the writer is reflecting on their...
821
01:20Physiology of Emotion
3.4K
The physiology of emotions is a multifaceted process involving the autonomic nervous system, brain structures, hormones, and neurotransmitters. This intricate interplay dictates how emotions manifest in the body and influence behavior.
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
Autonomic Nervous System
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a critical role in emotional responses by regulating involuntary physiological functions. It consists of two main components: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic system...
3.4K
01:26Emotional Expression
1.1K
Emotional expression encompasses how individuals convey their emotions through verbal communication and non-verbal cues. These non-verbal actions include facial expressions, body language, and physical gestures, such as frowning or smiling. Among these, facial expressions play a crucial role in emotional expression and are understood universally, indicating a biological basis for how humans communicate emotions.
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
Universal Facial Expressions
Psychologist Paul Ekman identified seven basic...
1.1K
01:20Labeling Emotion
719
Emotional labeling is a cognitive process that involves identifying and naming one's emotions, such as anger, fear, happiness, or sadness. It allows individuals to recognize and express their internal emotional states, a critical aspect of emotional regulation and communication. Labeling emotions requires more than mere recognition; it also involves drawing upon memory and contextual cues to understand the current situation and apply a corresponding emotional label. For instance, feeling...
719
01:29Introduction to Motivation and Emotion
1.2K
Motivation is a multifaceted process that drives behavior toward fulfilling various physiological or psychological needs. This process involves initiating, guiding, and maintaining specific actions influenced by internal and external factors. For example, when someone feels hungry while watching television, hunger is a motivator, prompting the individual to get up, walk to the kitchen, and find something to eat. In this instance, hunger initiates and sustains the behavior necessary to meet the...
1.2K
01:01Role of Emotions in Social Life
382
Emotions play a fundamental role in shaping human experience and interactions. The absence of emotions would render life incomplete and fail to capture the essence of human nature. In social psychology, feelings and moods have been extensively studied due to their profound impact on social life and interpersonal relationships. These affective states influence decision-making, behavior, and social perceptions, making them integral to understanding human interactions.Emotions and Social...
382