Face masks impede basic and complex emotion recognition: Variation across the broader autism phenotype

Abstract

The broader autism phenotype is characterised by atypical face perception. There is little understanding of how face masks―now commonly worn to protect against transmission of COVID-19―might impact face processing across the broader autism phenotype. Neurotypical participants had their autistic traits measured and viewed masked and unmasked faces displaying basic and also complex expressions. Face masks reduced emotion recognition for basic and complex expressions in all participants. Autistic traits were linked to lower face emotion recognition, though this was primarily due to reduced accuracy with basic (masked and unmasked) expressions. Autistic traits were not linked to greater challenges in interpreting the emotions of masked faces.