Assessing the relationship between cognitive empathy, age, and face perception using a sequential Bayesian analysis

Kist, J. D.; Bethlehem, R. A. I.; Stonier, B.; Sluijters, O. J. J.; Crockford, S. K.; de Jonge, E.; Freyberg, J.; Baron-Cohen, S.; Parsons, O. E.

doi:10.1101/2020.09.11.292706

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2020.09.11.292706

Assessing the relationship between cognitive empathy, age, and face perception using a sequential Bayesian analysis

Kist, J. D.·Bethlehem, R. A. I.·Stonier, B.·Sluijters, O. J. J.·Crockford, S. K.·de Jonge, E.·Freyberg, J.·Baron-Cohen, S.·Parsons, O. E.

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Abstract

The ability to correctly identify emotions in social stimuli such as faces is proposed to affect ones level of cognitive empathy. The Fusiform Face Area shows a heightened neural response during the perception of faces relative to objects. We tested whether neural responses to social stimuli were associated with performance in a measure of cognitive empathy, the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task. To quantify face perception, participants were presented with images during a fast serial presentation task which elicited a steady state visual evoked potential, measured using electroencephalography. A Sequential Bayesian Analysis was used to assess if face specific neural responses were associated with either cognitive empathy or age. Data were collected from a participant group of both neurotypical individuals and individuals on the autistic spectrum. We found no significant relationship between the face-specific neural signature, cognitive empathy or age. This study highlights the efficiency of the Sequential Bayesian Analysis as an effective method of participant recruitment.

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Kist, J. D., Bethlehem, R. A. I., Stonier, B., Sluijters, O. J. J., Crockford, S. K., de Jonge, E., Freyberg, J., Baron-Cohen, S., Parsons, O. E.. 2020-09-12. Assessing the relationship between cognitive empathy, age, and face perception using a sequential Bayesian analysis. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.11.292706

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