Basic and complex emotion recognition in children with autism: cross-cultural findings.

The country samples were small, and the authors say a larger typical-development sample would be needed to examine cultural differences properly. The authors could not examine gender differences because few girls were in the autism groups. Testing locations varied, including home, clinic or lab settings, which the authors say may have affected results, although within each country autism and control groups were tested similarly. The body-task stimuli were filmed in Britain with actors of various ethnicities, so Swedish body-task differences may reflect stimulus origin rather than culture. The study used dynamic visual clips, and the authors note these may be more challenging than still pictures, so results may not match static-image tests. Only Israel, Britain and Sweden were tested, and the authors recommend extending to non-Western cultures.

Funded by the Medical Research Council (GB), Wellcome Trust (GB) and Seventh Framework Programme. The article does not report author conflicts of interest.

Do not read the lower average scores as proof that every child with autism cannot recognise emotions or that a specific therapy will improve them. The study compared group averages, did not test treatment, and some autism-control differences varied by country and task.