Could oxytocin nasal spray help children with autism by making faces less overwhelming?
Oxytocin nasal spray may lower social stress in autism by dampening face-related brain activity, researchers report.
New study finds online self-reports may not accurately reflect clinical autism diagnoses
A new study finds online self-reports of autistic traits may not reflect the same behaviors or diagnoses as those confirmed by clinical evaluation
Reduced male hormone exposure may be linked to autism-like traits in males, study suggests
Lower exposure to male hormones during development may be linked to autism-associated traits in males, researchers report.
Mentalizing skills drive teen storytelling ability more than autism diagnosis
Teenagers' storytelling hinges on understanding others' minds, more than autism diagnosis, a new study reveals. Mentalizing skills are key for both structure and coherence.
Scientists just discovered a key connection between face processing and intelligence
Recent research found that face processing abilities form a general factor, are positively linked to intelligence, and negatively associated with autistic-like traits.
Brain connectivity deviations linked to social challenges in boys with autism
Scientists have developed a new method to understand autism by studying individual variations in brain connectivity.
Psychedelic use linked to reduced distress, increased social engagement in autistic adults
Can psychedelics help autistic adults? A new study reveals some report benefits like reduced anxiety and better social connection, but also highlights potential downsides.
People with autistic traits show reduced attentional bias towards animals
People with lower autistic traits pay more attention to images of animals than objects, while those with higher autistic traits do not. This suggests a link between our ability to quickly spot living creatures and our broader social skills.
Large-scale neuroimaging study finds no evidence of atypical amygdala connectivity in autism
A large-scale neuroimaging study found no evidence of atypical functional connectivity in the amygdala of individuals with autism, challenging previous hypotheses. Results suggest amygdala connectivity differences may not be a core feature of autism.
New neuroscience research sheds light on distinct patterns of learning and generalization in autistic adults
Adults with autism learn visual categories more slowly and struggle to generalize to new shapes. These differences stem from unique brain activity during feedback processing, highlighting distinct ways they process information and adapt to new situations.
Physically inactive children have higher rates of depression and anxiety, study finds
Physically active children, including those with autism or ADHD, exhibit significantly lower rates of anxiety and depression compared to their inactive peers.
Rapid memory consolidation remains intact in autism, new research shows
Ultrafast memory consolidation—brief moments of learning during breaks—works similarly in individuals with and without autism, showing that autistic traits do not disrupt rapid memory stabilization or learning processes.
Researchers uncover a hidden cognitive strength associated with autistic traits
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology provides evidence that autistic traits play a significant role in how individuals navigate learning environments.
Early screen time not a cause of autism, study concludes
Early screen time was initially linked to autism, but this connection disappeared when accounting for socioeconomic factors, suggesting screen time is not a cause of autism but may indicate families needing additional support.
These four factors predict maladaptive daydreaming in neurodivergent individuals
Maladaptive daydreaming in neurodivergent individuals is linked to emotional struggles, internalized stigma, self-esteem, and escapism, with unique patterns in autism, ADHD, and combined diagnoses, highlighting its role as a coping mechanism for distress.
