Social interaction is a two-way street: How well do neurotypicals interpret behavior of individuals with autism?

Instead of investigating the ability of individuals on the autism spectrum to identify emotions, a new study takes a different approach: how well can neurotypical adults interpret the behavior of adults with autism? Can neurotypicals determine what type of situation people are experiencing based on their reactions alone? A Dr. Elizabeth Sheppard and colleagues from…

Inclusion critical to life satisfaction for adults on the autism spectrum

The only significant predictor of self-reported life satisfaction in adults with autism spectrum condition (ASC) is whether or not they participate in society, a new study reports, indicating that more resources should be directed toward increasing community engagement for individuals with ASC. Researchers surveyed 43 adults with autism and 44 without about how much difficulty…

Individuals with autism respond more quickly, less accurately to situations with conflict and emotion

A recent study found that individuals with autism spectrum condition (ASC) demonstrate a tradeoff between speed and accuracy when faced with emotionally-charged situations with conflict. It is well established that individuals with ASC tend to pay less attention to social and emotional information, so one possible explanation for this finding is that individuals with ASC…

“Just give him the marker!”: Giving choices to children with autism improves academic performance

A 2010 study by Dr. Lynn Koegel and colleagues provided evidence that giving children choices related to their academic tasks improved several aspects of their performance. When given choices, the children initiated writing and math tasks more quickly, completed the tasks faster, decreased their disruptive behaviors, and demonstrated greater interest in the tasks. At the…

Studies suggest peer support helps children with autism engage in class

By Sarah Hansen A 2014 study found that peer support for three boys with autism significantly reduced their off-task behaviors in inclusive elementary school classrooms. After training one-to-one peer supporters, the low-cost peer support protocol places minimal demands on teachers and improves the classroom environment for all learners. The study also found that all children…

Adults on the autism spectrum may process visual information for motor control differently than neurotypical adults

By Sarah Hansen Neurotypical adults primarily use visual cues to control posture. A new study in Neuroscience finds that adults on the autism spectrum instead tend to prioritize other sensory feedback, such as pressure and motion, to control their body position. These results suggest that popular vision-based techniques for teaching skills to individuals with autism,…

Children with autism identify emotions in body language as well as their neurotypical peers

By Sarah Hansen New research indicates that children on the autism spectrum can identify emotions in body language just as accurately as their typically-developing peers, contradicting the commonly-held belief that individuals with autism are blind to others’ feelings. Children with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) do have more difficulty identifying emotions solely from faces or eyes,…

Promise and Pitfalls: New paper reviews the use of induced pluripotent stem cells in autism research

By Sarah Hansen A recent review by team members at the Hussman Institute for Autism (HIA) discusses new and emerging technologies related to the use of induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPSCs. iPSCs are mature cells, such as skin cells or blood cells, that have been experimentally coaxed (“induced”) into a state where they can…