Autism Research最新文献

{"title":"Event- and Time-Based Prospective Memory and Time Perception in Autistic Adults With and Without Intellectual Disabilities","authors":"Daniela Nürnberg,&nbsp;Mareike Altgassen","doi":"10.1002/aur.70250","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70250","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aim of this study was to examine time perception (i.e., the sense of the duration, order and passage of time) and event- and time-based prospective memory (PM; i.e., the ability to recall an intention to perform an action in the future) in adults across the wider autism spectrum including those with intellectual disabilities. Sixty-four adults, aged 18–65 years, took part in the study (32 autistic, 32 neurotypical controls). Participants were tested using computerized event- and time-based PM tasks and two different time perception tasks (naturalistic vs. comprehensive consisting of time estimation, time production and time reproduction). Results showed no differences between the groups in both PM tasks after controlling for verbal abilities. Moreover, both groups displayed comparable performance in event- versus time-based PM tasks. Autistic participants showed difficulties in time perception in comparison to neurotypical controls in the naturalistic, but not in the comprehensive time perception task. In both groups better performance in time perception was linked to better event- and time-based PM performance. Given the high relevance of PM in everyday life, further research is needed to support autistic individuals in their day-to-day lives. This is one of the first studies investigating PM in autistic adults, including those with intellectual disabilities, a part of the spectrum that is often overlooked.</p>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aur.70250","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147647393","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Untangling Sex and Gender Differences in Impression Management and Associated Autism Features in French Autistic Adults","authors":"Wei Ai,&nbsp;Andrea Anchordoqui,&nbsp;Olena Bogdanova,&nbsp;Virginie Pomies,&nbsp;Romain Coutelle,&nbsp;Paola Atzori,&nbsp;Marion Leboyer,&nbsp;Meng-Chuan Lai,&nbsp;Anouck Amestoy","doi":"10.1002/aur.70271","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70271","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Some autistic individuals camouflage their behavioral differences, a phenomenon that overlaps with general impression management (IM). Few studies have examined IM in autistic people, particularly outside English-speaking countries. This study delineated the shared facets of camouflaging and IM, and used this conceptual clarification to address two knowledge gaps: (1) the respective roles of assigned-sex, gender identity, and gender role expression in explaining IM facet differences, and (2) how these facets relate to autism features across life stages. French autistic adults (<i>N</i> = 291) completed self-report measures of camouflaging, concern for appropriateness, self-monitoring, and gender role expression. The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule Second Edition (ADOS-2) measured childhood and adulthood autism features, respectively. Joint exploratory factor analysis extracted latent facets of camouflaging and IM measures. Hierarchical and elastic-net regressions examined how IM facets were associated with assigned-sex, gender identity, and gender role expression. Multiple regressions tested whether IM facets moderated the relationship between childhood and adulthood autism profiles. The results highlighted the multi-faceted nature of IM (as inclusive of camouflaging) and unveiled nuances beyond previously documented sex/gender differences in autistic camouflaging. We found two IM facets: “intentional use” (purposeful IM use) and “self-efficacy” (self-perceived IM capability). IM intentional use was greater in autistic women and gender-diverse adults than men. Greater IM self-efficacy was most strongly associated with higher communion traits (i.e., qualities of being caring and cooperative). In autistic assigned-males, greater IM self-efficacy was linked with lower adulthood autistic social communication features. The findings confer new insights into sex-related, gender-related, and potential developmental links between IM and autism profiles.</p>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aur.70271","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147943862","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Systematic Review on Computer Vision in Play-Based Research and Interventions for Autistic Children","authors":"Mohamad Hassan Fadi Hijab,&nbsp;Athmar N. M. Shamhan,&nbsp;Zied El Houki,&nbsp;Marwa Qaraqe,&nbsp;Dena Al-Thani","doi":"10.1002/aur.70249","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70249","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Play holds a prominent role in Autism Research and practice, serving not only as a medium for assessment, providing insights into developmental progress and diagnostic indicators, but also as a foundational element in targeted interventions designed to support specific skills, education, and therapeutic outcomes. Additionally, free, unstructured play offers autistic children vital opportunities for self-expression, exploration, and emotional regulation. Recent advancements in computer vision techniques have significantly expanded the possibilities in Autism Research by capturing nuanced motor behaviors and facilitating interactive environments tailored to enhance social engagement and responsiveness. This paper investigates the application of computer vision techniques within diverse play contexts involving autistic children. A systematic literature review was conducted across six major databases, identifying 39 studies published between January 2014 and January 2026 that met the inclusion criteria. The collected data included the type of computer vision techniques used, participant demographics, and purpose of play and its environment. Most of the included studies used structured play scenarios, employing methods such as facial expression recognition, eye tracking, and pose estimation to objectively assess social communication, emotion recognition, and motor coordination in autistic children. Some studies positioned their approach as targeted interventions, while others utilized play-based tasks for early screening and diagnostic insights. The findings highlight the usefulness of computer vision in enhancing child-centered play and autism-related assessments. However, small sample sizes, methodological inconsistencies, and limited real-world applicability remain significant constraints. Future research should focus on inclusive designs, larger and more diverse participant samples, and longitudinal studies to validate the long-term effectiveness of these systems. By addressing these limitations, computer vision–enhanced play could become a crucial component of both personalized interventions and diagnostic frameworks for autistic individuals.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147628858","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and Validation of a Short Version Eye-Tracking Paradigm for the Screening and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Qatar","authors":"Fouad Al Shaban,&nbsp;Iman Ghazal,&nbsp;Fatema Al-Faraj,&nbsp;Sarah Aqel,&nbsp;I. Richard Thompson","doi":"10.1002/aur.70242","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70242","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Objective behavioral assessments for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often time-intensive and require substantial clinical expertise. Eye-tracking–based paradigms offer quantifiable measures of social attention that can complement traditional tools. The current study builds on our previously validated Arabic-language Autism Index (AI) by developing and validating a 4 min short version designed to improve feasibility in clinical and community settings while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. A total of 236 participants (127 with ASD, 109 non-autistic controls including those with developmental delays (DD)) aged 1–16 years were assessed using an eye-tracking paradigm consisting of 19 short dynamic videos depicting social and non-social scenes. The AI was computed as the ratio of dwell time toward social versus non-social stimuli. Diagnostic classification was established using ADOS-2 and SCQ. Reliability and validity were assessed using Cronbach's <i>α</i>, Pearson's <i>r</i>, and ROC analyses, including age-stratified performance and comparison with the original 10 min version. Feasibility was assessed by the proportion of valid stimuli. The short-version AI demonstrated excellent internal consistency (<i>α</i> = 0.91) and test–retest reliability (<i>r</i> = 0.83). Diagnostic accuracy was high (AUC = 0.878, SE = 0.023), with age-stratified AUCs ranging from 0.846 to 0.939. AI scores correlated strongly with ADOS-2 severity (<i>r</i> = 0.54, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and SCQ total scores (<i>r</i> = 0.43, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001). Compared with the 10 min original version (AUC = 0.73), the short paradigm achieved higher accuracy and feasibility (valid stimuli: 89% vs. 80%). The current eye-tracking paradigm demonstrates promising diagnostic performance while substantially reducing assessment time and cognitive demand. The findings provide initial evidence supporting its potential as a scalable and cross-cultural tool for ASD screening and diagnosis, with further validation in independent and clinical cohorts supporting its translation into routine clinical practice.</p>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aur.70242","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147581978","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring Biases in Autism Diagnostic Pathways","authors":"Ryan Woolhouse,&nbsp;Sarah L. Nicholson","doi":"10.1002/aur.70252","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70252","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Assessments for autism spectrum disorder are time-consuming and expensive, and demand has increased over recent decades. Despite improved diagnostic criteria and awareness of autism, there still appear to be disparities in diagnostic rates of autism across age, gender, and ethnicity. Research investigating biases in referrals to, and assessments conducted by, autism diagnostic services is limited, especially in adults, making it difficult to understand these disparities. This clinical service evaluation collected data on demographic characteristics of clients referred and accepted for autism assessments (<i>N</i> = 350) and fully assessed for autism (<i>N</i> = 269) by a London-based adult autism team. Demographic characteristics of clients referred to the service were compared to population prevalences using Census data to investigate potential biases in referring clinicians. Demographic characteristics of clients who received diagnoses of autism were compared to the service's average diagnostic rate to investigate potential biases in assessing clinicians. Participants referred and accepted for autism assessments were significantly more likely to be male, aged 18–34, and from White or “Other” ethnic backgrounds compared to local population prevalences. Of clients assessed, there were no significant differences in diagnostic rates of autism among demographic groups compared to the service's average diagnostic rate. Clinicians conducting autism assessments appeared to show no diagnostic bias. However, findings suggest there are still disparities in gender, ethnicity, and age of adults who were referred and accepted for autism assessments. Further research is needed to investigate causes of this access disparity to ensure people can access appropriate services and support.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147678810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autistic Adolescents' Quality of Life: Perceived Social Competence and Social Anxiety as Key","authors":"Hui-Jen Shyu,&nbsp;Yu-Wei Ryan Chen,&nbsp;Daphne Yih Ng,&nbsp;Anita Bundy,&nbsp;Mei-Hui Tseng,&nbsp;Reinie Cordier","doi":"10.1002/aur.70240","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70240","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Autistic adolescents often report lower social and overall quality of life (QoL) associated with limited social skills and behavioral challenges. Awareness of social limitations and social anxiety can worsen QoL, yet the specific roles of these factors remain underexplored. This study examined how social skills, challenging behaviors, social anxiety, and self-perceived social competence influence QoL in autistic adolescents. A total of 117 autistic participants (age = 12.6 ± 2.2 years; female = 13.7%, male = 86.3%) completed measures including the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory, the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents, and the Self-Perception Profile for Children/Adolescents Social Competence Subscale. Caregivers assessed social skills and challenging behaviors using the Social Skills Improvement System Rating Scales. Linear regressions, controlling for age, sex, and autistic characteristics, revealed that lower overall QoL was significantly associated with higher social anxiety (<i>β</i> = −0.48, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001), lower perceived social competence (<i>β</i> = 0.21, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), and more challenging behaviors (<i>β</i> = −0.24, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01) among autistic adolescents. Furthermore, lower social QoL was associated with social anxiety (<i>β</i> = −0.52, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) and perceived social competence (<i>β</i> = 0.28, <i>p</i> &lt; 0.01). These factors accounted for 45.5% of overall and 51.6% of social QoL variance. The findings highlighted the importance of supporting self-perception, addressing emotional distress, and managing behavioral challenges to improve QoL in autistic adolescents.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147535040","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Psychological Impact of Autism Screening on Caregivers","authors":"Ramkumar Aishworiya,&nbsp;Devon Gangi,&nbsp;Van Kim Ma,&nbsp;Chandni Parikh,&nbsp;Nor Azyati Yusoff,&nbsp;Narueporn Likhitweerawong,&nbsp;Sally Ozonoff","doi":"10.1002/aur.70267","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70267","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Autism screening in childhood is common, yet little is known about its potential psychological impact on caregivers. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an independent national panel of disease prevention experts, stated that this gap in knowledge limited their ability to endorse universal autism screening. This study examined the psychological impact of autism screening, using data from a large community-based sample (<i>n</i> = 1272) involving online caregiver-completed autism screeners at child age 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months. Caregivers completed the Participation Impact Questionnaire retrospectively (mean child age at completion 37.2 ± 4.8 months) to measure feelings about screening. A minority (34.7%) of the sample reported presence of ≥ 1 negative feeling; the most commonly endorsed was “worried”. Among this subset, negative feelings were of short duration (lasted for &lt; 1 day in 56.9%), were mild in severity (86.4%), and did not affect functioning (85.3%). A majority (86.2%) also reported ≥ 1 positive feeling. Our findings address a critical evidence gap regarding potential harms of autism screening and support universal screening, given that psychological harms are not common and have low functional impact, as well as possible psychological benefits.</p>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13174677/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147824131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exposure, Extinction, and Cognitive Appraisals in Autistic Adults With Social Anxiety: Evidence From a Structured Speech Exposure Task","authors":"Bruna B. Roisenberg,&nbsp;Kelsie A. Boulton,&nbsp;Emma E. Thomas,&nbsp;Dorothy Yu,&nbsp;Adam J. Guastella","doi":"10.1002/aur.70268","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70268","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Social anxiety (SA) is highly prevalent among autistic adults, yet little is known about how autistic people respond to common therapeutic strategies, such as exposure tasks. This study examined responses to a structured speech exposure task embedded within an 8-week modified cognitive–behavioral therapy (M-CBT) program. Thirty-two autistic adults with co-occurring SA completed pre- and post-task assessments of anxiety and related cognitive appraisals, including self-focused attention, perceived performance, appearance concerns, and threat appraisals. Participants reported appropriate engagement with the task, characterized by elevated anticipatory anxiety followed by reductions in anxiety during the speech. Responses were largely consistent with CBT models of social anxiety and with reports by those in a social anxiety disorder reference group. Participants overestimated anticipatory anxiety (predicted fear) relative to experienced peak fear during the task. Higher anxiety was associated with greater self-focused attention and stronger threat appraisals, although anxiety correlated positively with self-rated performance. Importantly, the extinction of fear during the speech task was associated with post-treatment response to CBT. Among participants classified as high-extinction, 59% showed clinically significant improvement on the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, Self-Report (LSAS-SR), compared with 25% of those in the low-extinction group. A parallel pattern was observed in a social anxiety disorder comparison group, indicating that the extinction–outcome relationship was similar across autistic and non-autistic adults. This study provides evidence that autistic individuals report fear and anxiety responses in a manner largely consistent with CBT models and that extinction-based processes during exposure are meaningfully associated with treatment response. Further studies employing randomized controlled trials and objective measures of fear are now needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aur.70268","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147846788","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disrupted Modular Integration of the Reward System Is Associated With Social Deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder","authors":"Chen Yang,&nbsp;Ai-Ping Sun,&nbsp;Sheng-Zhi Ma,&nbsp;Wen-Qiang Dong,&nbsp;Xiao Chen,&nbsp;Shuai-Yu Chen,&nbsp;Yuqi You,&nbsp;Yu-Feng Zang,&nbsp;Li-Xia Yuan","doi":"10.1002/aur.70241","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70241","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition with atypical social communication as a core symptom. Variations in social information processing in individuals with ASD are associated with the social brain, which encompasses four specific subnetworks, that is, reward system, theory of mind network, mirror neuron system, and face perception network. However, the relationship between neural mechanisms of altered social functioning and modular integration of these subnetworks within the social brain remains unclear in ASD. With resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) data from two large-scale datasets (ABIDE I and II), we computed the participation coefficient to explore the abnormal modular integration of the four subnetworks in 298 ASDs and 348 typically developing (TD) controls. Then, its associations with clinical symptoms, neurotransmitter systems, and transcriptional signatures were investigated. Additionally, the age effect on aberrant modular integration was estimated with linear regression models. Finally, we assessed the reproducibility of our results from a meta-perspective using other datasets. ASD participants exhibited increased integration of the reward system relative to TDs, which was correlated with Social Responsiveness Scale total score, the neurotransmitters such as 5HT1a and GABAa, and the disruption of the transcriptional signatures including cell proliferation and migration as well as tube and tissue morphogenesis. Additionally, the modular integration abnormality of the reward system was stable across development and replicated across datasets. We revealed a symptom-related, neurotransmitter- and transcriptional signature-associated, age-stable, and reproducible modular integration abnormality of the reward system in ASD. This hyper-integration was linked to reduced GABAa and serotonin receptor densities, providing neuroimaging and molecular evidence supporting the excitatory-inhibitory imbalance theory of ASD and insights into the mechanisms underlying social variations in ASD.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147582179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Autistic Children With Speech Onset Delay Show Reversed Bias in Spectral Versus Temporal Auditory Processing","authors":"Luodi Yu,&nbsp;Shuyu Xie,&nbsp;Li Wang,&nbsp;Laurent Mottron","doi":"10.1002/aur.70248","DOIUrl":"10.1002/aur.70248","url":null,"abstract":"<p>A recent “hierarchical” reinterpretation of the neurological basis of autism suggests that in autism with early language delay, perceptual processing may be favored over the integration of transmodal information. This model is largely based on neuroimaging findings relating to visual processing, but predicts a corresponding reorganization in the auditory modality. The present study provides the first direct psychophysical evidence of a reversed auditory processing bias in children with prototypical autism, characterized by impaired temporal resolution and enhanced spectral sensitivity. Using two matched psychoacoustic paradigms—temporal gap detection and low-frequency frequency modulation (FM) detection—we assessed auditory thresholds in 21 autistic and 23 typically developing (TD) children. Compared to TD peers, autistic children exhibited significantly higher temporal thresholds and significantly lower spectral thresholds, yielding a markedly elevated Auditory Bias Index (ABI) that quantifies a preference for spectral over temporal cues. In the group of autistic children investigated here, enhanced spectral resolution correlated positively with receptive language and nonverbal IQ, whereas temporal resolution was associated with age-related gains and language outcomes. These findings support the hypothesis of an atypical sensory-perceptual hierarchy in autism with speech onset delay and early behavioral atypicalities, with potential implications for alternative, nonsocial pathways to language acquisition.</p>","PeriodicalId":131,"journal":{"name":"Autism Research","volume":"19 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/aur.70248","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147628843","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}