Age and IQ as predictors of emotion identification in adults with mental retardation

The effects of age and IQ on the identification of six emotions were assessed for adults with mental retardation. Emotion perception was tested in three paradigms: a short vignette was read, and the individual was asked to choose a pictorial representation of a facial expression which corresponded to the vignette; a short vignette was read and the individual was asked to choose a word that corresponded to the vignette; and a word was read, and the individual was asked to choose a pictorial representation of a facial expression that corresponded to the word. Age correlated negatively with performance in the two conditions in which choosing a facial expression was used as a response. IQ significantly predicted performance in all three conditions. A decrease in right hemisphere processing abilities with age was suggested as one possible explanation for the findings.