Exploring Emotion Recognition Patterns among Iranian People Using CANTAB as an Approved Neuro-Psychological Assessment

Background: Emotion Recognition is the main component of social cognition and has various patterns in different cultures and nationalities. The present study aimed to investigate emotion recognition patterns among Iranians using the Cambridge Neuro-Psychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) as a valid neuropsychological test. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 117 males and females (Mage = 32.1, SD = 6.4) were initially assessed by computerised intelligence and progressive matrices of RAVEN-2. Furthermore, the excitement recognition subtest taken from the Cambridge Neuro-Psychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was performed. The correct response of participants to each of the six basic emotions as well as the recognition time was used for analysis. Results: The maximum correct responses rate was 75.83% related to happy emotion. The correct responses for sadness, surprise, disgust, anger and fear were 70%, 68.48%, 47.84%, 42.54% and 38.26%, respectively. Moreover, the shortest recognition time was related to disgust with 322ms, while sadness with mean response time 1800ms and fear response time with 1529ms indicated the longest recognition time. In addition, participants recognised happiness with mean response time in 1264ms better than other emotions; however, post-hoc t-test analyses showed that only the correct responses for sadness and surprised emotions did not differ significantly, (t (112) = -.59, p = .55, d = .05). These results suggested that different emotions have various correct responses. However, sadness and surprised did not differ. Conclusions: The findings of this study could be beneficial for evaluating cognitive elements, as well as cognitive abilities and inabilities among the Iranian population. Moreover, the findings could be used for investigating social cognition in this population.