A love of people is characteristic of individuals with Williams syndrome, and it is hard not to be charmed by their friendly and sociable nature. But what do people with Williams syndrome really understand about others? Are there particular cues that people with Williams syndrome rely on to make sense of others’ behavior? How do people with Williams Syndrome perceive and process social and emotional information?

To address these questions, we are conducting an exciting research program to explore the ways toddlers, adolescents and adults with Williams syndrome respond to social information, using a variety of methodologies such as measuring their reaction time when pressing buttons in response to images, measuring physiological responses (e.g., heart rate, respiration rate, and skin conductance), and tracking how the eye moves while looking at images. Additionally, in our research with younger children, we examine how toddlers with Williams Syndrome express and regulate their emotions while doing various activities with their parents, peers, and other adults.