Social relevance boosts context processing in Williams syndrome.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) are able to recognize facial expressions of emotion and objects missing on the basis of contextual cues. Sixteen individuals with WS were compared to typically developing individuals matched on chronological and mental age. WS group performed significantly lower than both control groups in object recognition. By contrast, no such group differences were found in facial expression recognition, suggesting that individuals with WS do have the ability to process contextual cues. However, this ability seems to be boosted when they are to process socially relevant cues.