Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.
The study introduced the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), a short self-test that gives a score from 0 to 50 to measure autistic traits in adults with normal intelligence. The researchers tested four groups (58 adults with Asperger/high-functioning autism; 174 random controls; 840 Cambridge students; and 16 math Olympiad winners) and found…
Researchers interviewed 92 adults with autism to study “camouflaging,” which means hiding or changing autistic behaviors in social situations. They used thematic analysis to make a three-stage model. People said they camouflage to fit in and make connections. Camouflaging included masking (hiding traits) and compensation (using learned social techniques). Reported…
This review looked at brain studies of how people with autism sense sounds, touch, and sights. It notes that unusual sensory reactions are very common in autism (reported in over 96% of children) and that brain measures (like ABR, EEG, MEG, and fMRI) often show differences in early auditory pathways…
This paper says many people with ADHD have big problems with emotions. These problems include over-reacting, deep shame or guilt, and a strong sensitivity to rejection called rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). The author explains that emotions were often left out of ADHD research and diagnosis because they are not always…
This CDC report looked at how common autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was in 2022 at 16 U.S. sites and how early children were identified. Across those sites, 8-year-old children had ASD at a rate of 32.2 per 1,000 (about one in 31). The report found big differences by sex, race…
Researchers tested the 80-question Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R) in 779 adults at nine centers on three continents. The tool showed large score differences between 201 people with confirmed Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and 578 comparison participants, and the authors concluded it is a useful tool to help clinicians…
This review looked at eye-tracking studies of infants, toddlers, and young children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or at risk for ASD. Eye tracking is a non-invasive way to record where children look, and studies show early differences: reduced looking at people and faces and trouble shifting attention can appear…
Researchers studied 32-day-old juvenile rats that were allowed 30 minutes of rough-and-tumble play. Right after play, the rats showed higher levels of BDNF messenger RNA in the amygdala and dorsolateral frontal cortex, measured with in situ hybridization. The authors suggested this could mean play helps shape brain areas tied to…
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, socialise and behave. It usually starts in early childhood (often before school and sometimes not noticed until 18 months or older) and varies a lot between people — some need little support and others need a…
Portrayals of autism spectrum disorder in film, television and literature often show special or "savant" skills: a young child who can crack advanced codes, an adult with astonishing memory, or a musician who can play any tune by ear after a single hearing. Are such portrayals realistic or helpful? Special…
This review examined how autistic people are shown in fictional media (Part A) and whether watching those portrayals changes what people know or feel about autism (Part B). Seventeen articles met the review rules: 14 analysed portrayals and 3 tested viewer effects (those 3 included five experiments). Media studied spanned…
The authors reviewed 73 mass shooting events (75 shooters) from the Mother Jones database to look for signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They found tentative evidence of ASD in 6 of 75 shooters (8%), plus 16 other cases with some indication; the 8% figure is called a conservative estimate…
