A study led by Rutgers University–New Brunswick researchers suggests that tiny facial movements – too slight for the human eye to notice – could help scientists better understand social communication in people with autism. Published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, the study found that while individuals with autism express emotions like everyone else, their facial expressions may be too subtle for the human eye to detect.
“Autistic individuals use the same basic facial movements to express emotions, but their intensity often falls outside the culturally familiar range that most people recognize,” said Elizabeth Torres, a psychology professor at the Rutgers–New Brunswick School of Arts and Sciences. “This disconnect can lead to missed social cues, causing others to overlook or misinterpret their emotions.” The researchers said individuals on the autism spectrum – especially those who cannot speak or require significant support for movement – also may have more unpredictable and varied facial expressions, making it more difficult for doctors and caregivers to recognize their emotional cues. As a result, some may mistakenly assume these individuals aren’t trying to communicate at all.
“But that’s not the case,” said Torres, a computational neuroscientist with more than 17 years of experience working with individuals with autism. “Their emotions and social signals are there – we just haven’t been able to see them properly. This research could help bridge that gap, fostering a better understanding between autistic and nonautistic individuals.” To read the full story.