Abstract
Background
ALS shares neuropathological similarities with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) resulting in social
cognitive dysfunction. Neuropathologically triggered cognitive deficits are not yet well explored in
ALS research, and it has been argued that changes in subdomains of social cognition are part of the
ALS neuropsychological profile independent of FTD symptoms.
Objectives/Method
A computer-based setup was used to investigate the potential positivity-bias in ALS patients
without FTD, specifically regarding facial emotion perception. We also explored the metacognitive
insight of patients’ performance to understand the neuropsychological profile of ALS and where
dysfunction arises.
Currently, 31 ALS patients and 9 healthy subjects have been included. Patients were on average 50
months after diagnosis. An emotion discrimination task (EDT) was administered using a standard
laptop. Participants were presented with a total of 60 images of faces morphed between angry and
happy facial expressions. Participants were given a forced-choice “happy or angry” evaluating the
emotion presented. Following each stimulus a confidence rating was obtained, on a scale from
“pure guess” (value = 0) to “very sure” (value = 100). Emotion intensity (EI) represents degree of
digital interlacement of facial expressions of angry (EI = 0) and happy (EI = 200). The EI level where
a participant is equally likely to report happy or angry represents the EI Threshold (EIT) and one
would expect healthy controls to have an EIT around 100.
Results/Conclusion
Preliminary data shows a tendency for a lower patient EIT (mean = 81.46, SD = 22.76) compared to
control EIT (mean = 86.54, SD = 17.28, p = 0.465). Representing perception of slightly angry faces
as neutral.
Patients’ confidence ratings were significantly higher when perceiving happy faces (mean = 73.24,
SD = 17.78) compared to when perceiving angry faces (mean = 60.84, SD = 26.69, p = 0.042)
indicating higher confidence in perception of happy faces.
These findings suggest a positivity-bias in ALS patients when interpreting ambiguous facial
emotions. This points to the potential use of the brief laptop-based test for disturbances in
emotional processing in ALS. Future work should compare the results to standardized tests of
emotional perception to overall cognition.
ALS shares neuropathological similarities with Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) resulting in social
cognitive dysfunction. Neuropathologically triggered cognitive deficits are not yet well explored in
ALS research, and it has been argued that changes in subdomains of social cognition are part of the
ALS neuropsychological profile independent of FTD symptoms.
Objectives/Method
A computer-based setup was used to investigate the potential positivity-bias in ALS patients
without FTD, specifically regarding facial emotion perception. We also explored the metacognitive
insight of patients’ performance to understand the neuropsychological profile of ALS and where
dysfunction arises.
Currently, 31 ALS patients and 9 healthy subjects have been included. Patients were on average 50
months after diagnosis. An emotion discrimination task (EDT) was administered using a standard
laptop. Participants were presented with a total of 60 images of faces morphed between angry and
happy facial expressions. Participants were given a forced-choice “happy or angry” evaluating the
emotion presented. Following each stimulus a confidence rating was obtained, on a scale from
“pure guess” (value = 0) to “very sure” (value = 100). Emotion intensity (EI) represents degree of
digital interlacement of facial expressions of angry (EI = 0) and happy (EI = 200). The EI level where
a participant is equally likely to report happy or angry represents the EI Threshold (EIT) and one
would expect healthy controls to have an EIT around 100.
Results/Conclusion
Preliminary data shows a tendency for a lower patient EIT (mean = 81.46, SD = 22.76) compared to
control EIT (mean = 86.54, SD = 17.28, p = 0.465). Representing perception of slightly angry faces
as neutral.
Patients’ confidence ratings were significantly higher when perceiving happy faces (mean = 73.24,
SD = 17.78) compared to when perceiving angry faces (mean = 60.84, SD = 26.69, p = 0.042)
indicating higher confidence in perception of happy faces.
These findings suggest a positivity-bias in ALS patients when interpreting ambiguous facial
emotions. This points to the potential use of the brief laptop-based test for disturbances in
emotional processing in ALS. Future work should compare the results to standardized tests of
emotional perception to overall cognition.
| Translated title of the contribution | Computer-baseret Testning af Emotions Diskrimination hos Patienter med Amyotrofisk Lateral Sklerose |
|---|---|
| Original language | English |
| Publication date | 25 Nov 2025 |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Nov 2025 |
| Event | 8th Annual Research Meeting 2025: The Department of Clinical Medicine's 8th Annual Research Meeting at Aarhus University. - Auditorium A (G206-145), t Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Entrance G6, Aarhus N, Denmark Duration: 25 Nov 2025 → 25 Nov 2025 https://clin.medarbejdere.au.dk/forskning/annual-research-meeting |
Conference
| Conference | 8th Annual Research Meeting 2025 |
|---|---|
| Location | Auditorium A (G206-145), t Aarhus University Hospital, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 99, Entrance G6 |
| Country/Territory | Denmark |
| City | Aarhus N |
| Period | 25/11/2025 → 25/11/2025 |
| Internet address |