Autism

Calls to revisit the discredited vaccine-autism claim miss the mark, but they raise an important question: how reliable is scientific research if it’s rarely replicated?

Scientists have found a way to spot genetic risk for autism by analyzing brain scans, moving closer to earlier, objective diagnosis based on brain structure.

Oxytocin nasal spray may lower social stress in autism by dampening face-related brain activity, researchers report.

A new study finds online self-reports of autistic traits may not reflect the same behaviors or diagnoses as those confirmed by clinical evaluation

Lower exposure to male hormones during development may be linked to autism-associated traits in males, researchers report.

Teenagers' storytelling hinges on understanding others' minds, more than autism diagnosis, a new study reveals. Mentalizing skills are key for both structure and coherence.

Recent research found that face processing abilities form a general factor, are positively linked to intelligence, and negatively associated with autistic-like traits.

Scientists have developed a new method to understand autism by studying individual variations in brain connectivity.

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 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.

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.

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 active children, including those with autism or ADHD, exhibit significantly lower rates of anxiety and depression compared to their inactive peers.

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.

A study published in PLOS Computational Biology provides evidence that autistic traits play a significant role in how individuals navigate learning environments.