Processing of facial expressions of emotions by adults with Down syndrome and moderate intellectual disability

The processing of facial expressions of emotions by 23 adults with Down syndrome and moderate intellectual disability was compared with that of adults with intellectual disability of other etiologies (24 matched in cognitive level and 26 with mild intellectual disability). Each participant performed 4 tasks of the Florida Affect Battery and an original task in which they had to match facial expressions after observing the complete face or one of its halves. Adults with Down syndrome did not show any specific difficulties in recognizing facial expressions in spite of showing a poorer discrimination between facial expressions and tended to take more notice of the lower half of the face.

► Adults with Down syndrome show a poor discrimination between facial expressions. ► They took more notice of the lower half of the face. ► Participants with ID of other etiologies considered the two halves of the face. ► Ability to recognise emotions was similar in people with and without Down syndrome.