Imitation of facial expressions plays an important role in social functioning. However, little is known about the quality of facial imitation in individuals with autism and its relationship with defining difficulties in emotion recognition. We investigated imitation and recognition of facial expressions in 37 individuals with autism spectrum conditions and 43 neurotypical controls. Using a novel computer-based face analysis, we measured instructed imitation of facial emotional expressions and related it to emotion recognition abilities. Individuals with autism imitated facial expressions if instructed to do so, but their imitation was both slower and less precise than that of neurotypical individuals. In both groups, a more precise imitation scaled positively with participants’ accuracy of emotion recognition. Given the study’s focus on adults with autism without intellectual impairment, it is unclear whether the results generalize to children with autism or individuals with intellectual disability. Further, the new automated facial analysis, despite being less intrusive than electromyography, might be less sensitive. Group differences in emotion recognition, imitation and their interrelationships highlight potential for treatment of social interaction problems in individuals with autism.

中文翻译：

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自闭症面部情绪的模仿和识别：一种计算机视觉方法

面部表情的模仿在社会功能中起着重要作用。然而，对于自闭症患者面部模仿的质量及其与定义情绪识别困难的关系知之甚少。我们调查了 37 名患有自闭症谱系疾病的人和 43 名神经典型对照者对面部表情的模仿和识别。使用一种新颖的基于计算机的面部分析，我们测量了面部情绪表情的指示模仿，并将其与情绪识别能力相关联。如果被指示，患有自闭症的人会模仿面部表情，但他们的模仿比神经典型的人更慢，也更不精确。在两组中，更精确的模仿与参与者情绪识别的准确性呈正相关。鉴于该研究的重点是没有智力障碍的自闭症成年人，目前尚不清楚结果是否适用于自闭症儿童或智障人士。此外，新的自动面部分析虽然比肌电图侵入性小，但可能不那么敏感。情绪识别、模仿及其相互关系的群体差异突出了治疗自闭症患者社交互动问题的潜力。