A self-guided app helped where traditional treatment often falls short.
When the pulses are timed correctly, they work to ‘unstick’ the brains of autistic people.
Study debunks a popular myth about autism and social insight.
Study debunks a popular myth about autism and social insight.
People with autistic traits make good social psychologists.
Social psychology is the study of how people behave in groups.
It seeks insights into how people influence each other, interact together and more.
When given tests of social psychological knowledge, people with autistic tendencies do as well, or slightly better, than those without autistic traits.
The finding might come as a surprise, since people with autism typically find it harder to judge the mental states of others.
However, people who have autistic traits may do better on the test by relying on analytical skills.
Their improved analytical skills may result from paying closer attention to patterns in people’s behaviour.
For the study, 6,595 people in 104 countries were given a quiz of standard social psychological findings.
The questions included things like:
(Answers at the bottom.)
Mr Anton Gollwitzer, the study’s first author, explained the results:
“People with ASD traits seem to be able to analyze how people in general will react in a social situation, even if they have difficulties judging the mental states of individuals.”
People with autistic traits may develop stronger analytical social psychological skills because of their difficulties determining the mental and cognitive states of other people’s minds, the authors think.
The answers are:
The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (Gollwitzer et al., 2019).
What mothers eat during pregnancy may have lasting effects on their child’s ADHD and autism risk.
Learn about the intense world theory of autism, its core concepts, neurobiological evidence, and implications for education and therapy.
The intense world theory of autism presents a unique perspective on autistic experiences by focusing on heightened brain activity and sensory sensitivity rather than deficits.
The intense world theory of autism offers an alternative to traditional deficit-based models.
Proposed by neuroscientists Henry and Kamila Markram in 2007, it suggests that autism stems from hyper-functionality in certain neural circuits.
Instead of viewing autism as a disorder of social and cognitive deficits, this theory frames it as a condition characterised by extreme sensitivity to stimuli and an overwhelming intensity of experience.
At the core of this theory are two interconnected ideas: hyper-reactivity and hyper-plasticity.
Together, these factors create a brain that is highly attuned to details and experiences, often at the expense of broader social interactions.
This theory reimagines many classic traits of autism, such as sensory overload, intense focus, and repetitive behaviours, as consequences of a hyper-functioning brain rather than deficits.
The intense world theory shifts the narrative from deficiency to difference.
It emphasises how the strengths and challenges of autistic individuals are rooted in heightened sensitivity.
This perspective encourages support strategies that minimise sensory overwhelm while fostering environments where autistic individuals can thrive by leveraging their unique strengths.
The intense world theory contrasts sharply with the deficit model, which focuses on what autistic individuals lack in social cognition and communication.
Unlike the theory of mind deficit, which suggests autistic individuals struggle to understand others’ mental states, the intense world theory posits that excessive empathy and hyper-awareness may lead to social avoidance.
Additionally, it diverges from the weak central coherence theory, which describes difficulty seeing the bigger picture, by attributing this phenomenon to an overemphasis on detail due to heightened perceptual sensitivity.
While research on the intense world theory is ongoing, several studies lend credence to its propositions.
These findings align with the theory’s emphasis on hyper-connectivity and heightened reactivity in neural circuits.
Despite its compelling insights, the intense world theory is not without criticism.
Some researchers argue that it overgeneralises autism as a singular experience without accounting for the broad spectrum of presentations.
Others question the extent to which hyper-plasticity and hyper-reactivity can explain the full range of autistic behaviours.
Future research could explore how individual differences within the autism spectrum align with or challenge the theory.
Additionally, further studies using advanced imaging techniques and longitudinal data are needed to strengthen the empirical foundation.
Therapeutic approaches informed by the intense world theory focus on reducing sensory overload and creating calming environments.
Rather than attempting to normalise autistic behaviours, these approaches aim to enhance quality of life by honouring the unique needs of each individual.
Educators can apply the principles of this theory to create inclusive and supportive learning environments.
These strategies promote engagement and success by recognising and accommodating heightened sensitivities.
Many autistic individuals describe experiences consistent with the intense world theory.
By incorporating personal stories, the theory gains real-world relevance and humanises the scientific framework.
The intense world theory of autism reframes autism as a condition of heightened sensitivity and intense experiences rather than deficits.
It challenges traditional perspectives and offers fresh insights into understanding and supporting autistic individuals.
While further research is needed to fully validate its claims, the theory provides a compelling narrative that celebrates diversity and promotes more compassionate approaches to autism.
By acknowledging both the strengths and challenges associated with hyper-functionality, this perspective opens the door to more tailored, empathetic, and empowering interventions.
Learn how popular board games are helping autistic individuals socialise.
Mums who take too much of these vitamins during pregnancy could triple the risk of autism in their children.
Mums who take too much of these vitamins during pregnancy could triple the risk of autism in their children.
Mothers who have elevated blood levels of vitamin B12 (cobalamin) or B9 (folate) during pregnancy are more likely to have autistic children.
Folic acid is a B vitamin and synthetic form of folate used in nutritional supplements, breads and fortified foods.
Dark green leafy vegetables are high in folate while vitamin B12 is naturally present in foods from animal sources such as meat, dairy, and eggs.
Folate and B12 are important for the foetus to develop as a deficiency in pregnant mums would put her future child at a greater risk of anaemia and neural tube defects such as spina bifida.
However, high levels of folate (four times higher than the normal range) during pregnancy could triple the risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in new born babies, a study has found.
Similarly, excessive amounts of vitamin B12 in mums triples the risk of ASD for their new babies.
The risk of developing ASD can rise by 17.6 times if both B12 and folate levels are very high.
According to the guidelines, women during pregnancy and before getting pregnant should take 400 micrograms (mcg) of folic acid daily to avoid birth defects.
However, maternal multivitamin supplementation and fortified food intake requires careful planning as increased folate and B12 levels could be associated with ASD.
Professor M. Daniele Fallin, the study co-author, said:
“Adequate supplementation is protective: That’s still the story with folic acid.
We have long known that a folate deficiency in pregnant mothers is detrimental to her child’s development.
But what this tells us is that excessive amounts may also cause harm.
We must aim for optimal levels of this important nutrient.”
Despite the importance of folate and B12, still one quarter of women of reproductive age in the United States are deficient.
Both low and high levels of folate were linked to autism, a neurodevelopmental disorder, the signs of which include repetitive or unusual behaviour, social impairment, and abnormal communication.
In this study, six percent of pregnant women had high blood levels of vitamin B12 (more than 600 picomoles per litre) and 10 percent were high in folate (more than 59 nanomoles per litre).
According to the World Health Organisation, a normal range for folate is between 13.5 and 45.3 nanomoles per litre during the first trimester of pregnancy.
A normal range for folate is between 13.5 and 45.3 nanomoles per litre during the first trimester of pregnancy but there is no established range for vitamin B12 yet.
The researchers think high consumption of folic acid-fortified foods and taking too many supplements could be the reason that some participants had such elevated levels in their blood.
The study was published in the journal Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology (Raghavan et al., 2018).
Signs of autism include no social pointing, no babbling by 12 months, no words by sixteen months and no warm or happy facial expressions.
Signs of autism include no social pointing, no babbling by 12 months, no words by sixteen months and no warm or happy facial expressions.
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental problem that affects people’s ability to communicate, behave and interact with others.
There are around 70 million people around the world who are autistic or show signs of autism.
Prevalence in the US is around 1 in 100 children, maybe more.
The number of people diagnosed with autism around the world has risen massively (Rødgaard et al., 2019).
In the last fifty years, the prevalence of autism has multiplied by an astonishing 40 times, with many more showing signs of autism.
Males are about four times more likely to have signs of autism than females.
There’s huge variability in the disorder.
That’s why it’s now known as an autism spectrum –- a very big spectrum.
The ‘spectrum’ includes Asperger’s syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder and a host of other alternative names and classifications.
Autism is not usually diagnosed before two-years-old.
However, the subtle warning signs of autism can be seen even earlier — perhaps before the age of 18 months.
The earlier a child is diagnosed with autism, the quicker the treatments can begin.
The five early warning signs of autism are:
Before one-year-old it is difficult to spot any of these signs of austism.
But between 12 and 18-months, it is possible to pick up on these signs of autism.
Below are some specific signs of autism to look for in a child that may be at risk.
Some ‘red flag’ signs of autism are indicated below — any of these mean a child needs to be medically evaluated.
Problems with language and social skills are central to autism, so any concerns around these should be acted on.
Naturally, older children tend to display more complex signs of autism.
Here are seven symptoms or signs of autism in older children:
Gut problems are often seen in children with autism.
Children with more severe repetitive behaviours — one of the classic signs of autism — are more likely to experience stomach pain, constipation and other gut difficulties.
Repetitive behaviours include rocking back and forth and hand flapping.
It may be that repetitive behaviours are one way that children with autism communicate their distress at gut problems.
The study underlines the strong link found between mental health problems in general and the gut.
Ms Payal Chakraborty, the study’s first author, said:
“In the general population, there’s a fair amount of evidence about the connection between mood and mental disorders and gastrointestinal difficulties.
In autism, we wonder if the gut problems children experience are a core part of the disease itself or whether they’re brought on by other symptoms that children with autism experience.”
Gut problems typically emerge at a time when children are still unable to communicate verbally.
Previous studies have suggested that probiotic therapy may be able to help people with autism.
Repetitive behaviours are one of the common signs of autism in adults, although they are just one part of the syndrome.
Habits like lining up objects, or arranging them in patterns are potential signs of autism.
Repetitive behaviours like these are common signs of autism, along with other nervous disorders, like OCD and Tourette’s.
Researchers have developed a test of these signs of autism that can help to diagnose the condition (Barrett et al., 2016).
The test includes questions like:
It then asks people to rate how strongly they agree with various statements, including:
Those with signs of autism often insist that their daily routines remain the same.
They use habitual, repetitive movements to try and reduce stress and anxiety.
Repetitive behaviours can include jumping, spinning, arm-flapping, head-banging and so on.
As with many psychological conditions, the seeds of the disorder are found in most people.
It is when it starts to interfere with everyday life that it requires diagnosis and treatment.
A lack of empathy is another of the classic signs autism, even if people do not reach the formal criteria for ASD (Shah et al., 2019).
People who find empathy difficult cannot understand other people’s feelings.
Those who lack empathy, which is one of the signs of autism, tend to agree with statements such as:
Another of the common signs of autism is a lack of social skills.
Symptoms can also include language impairment, repetitive behaviours, sleep disorders, allergic reactions, seizures and abnormal behaviour in general.
Someone who has autistic tendencies would not necessarily receive a diagnosis of autism.
Autism occurs along a spectrum — this means some people have very serious symptoms, while others have only mild symptoms.
Many more people, both children and adults, are displaying signs of autism in recent times.
One reason autism diagnoses are rising so rapidly is that the definition of autism is broadening (Rødgaard et al., 2019).
Researchers analysed many separate studies including almost 23,000 people with autism.
The results showed that the difference between people displaying signs of autism and those not showing signs of autism has narrowed by 50 percent between 1966 and 2019.
Professor Laurent Mottron, study co-author, said:
“This means that, across all disciplines, the people with or without autism who are being included in studies are increasingly similar.
If this trend holds, the objective difference between people with autism and the general population will disappear in less than 10 years.
The definition of autism may get too blurry to be meaningful — trivializing the condition — because we are increasingly applying the diagnosis to people whose differences from the general population are less pronounced.”
What has changed is diagnostic practices for autism, said Professor Mottron:
“Three of the criteria for an autism diagnosis are related to sociability.
Fifty years ago, one sign of autism was a lack of apparent interest in others.
Nowadays, it’s simply having fewer friends than others.
Interest in others can be measured in various ways, such as making eye contact.
But shyness, not autism, can prevent some people from looking at others.”
Explore the surprising role of antibiotics, fatty acids and toxic chemicals in predicting autism and ADHD.
New study may help explain why autism is more common in males.
New study may help explain why autism is more common in males.
Children who later develop autism are exposed to increased levels of steroid hormones in the womb, research from the UK and Denmark shows.
The study took advantage of amniotic fluid in a Danish biobank from 19,500 women who had chosen to have a routine amniocentesis at 15-16 weeks to screen for developmental problems (Baron-Cohen et al., 2014).
The samples were matched to 128 males who later went on to develop autism.
Amongst those who developed autism, there were elevated levels of four key ‘sex steroids’ in the amniotic fluid: progesterone, 17α-hydroxy-progesterone, androstenedione and testosterone.
The study’s lead author, autism expert Professor Baron-Cohen, explained the study’s results:
“This is one of the earliest non-genetic biomarkers that has been identified in children who go on to develop autism.
We previously knew that elevated prenatal testosterone is associated with slower social and language development, better attention to detail, and more autistic traits.
Now, for the first time, we have also shown that these steroid hormones are elevated in children clinically diagnosed with autism.
Because some of these hormones are produced in much higher quantities in males than in females, this may help us explain why autism is more common in males.”
One of the study’s other senior authors, Dr Michael Lombardo, said:
“Our discovery here meshes nicely with other recent findings that highlight the prenatal period around 15 weeks gestation as a key period when important genetic risk mechanisms for autism are working together to be expressed in the developing brain.”
However, Professor Baron-Cohen cautioned that the study did not suggest a quick fix:
“These results should not be taken as a reason to jump to steroid hormone blockers as a treatment as this could have unwanted side effects and may have little to no effect in changing the potentially permanent effects that fetal steroid hormones exert during the early foundational stages of brain development.”
The value of the new results lies in identifying key biological mechanisms during fetal development that could play important roles in atypical brain development in autism.”
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