Systemising and autism

Aims:

To test if autistic people have strengths in systemising.

Background:

Systemising is the drive to analyse or construct a system. A system is anything that follows rules and is thus lawful. It might be a mechanical system (e.g., a machine or a spinning wheel), an abstract system (e.g., number patterns), a natural system (e.g., water flow, or the weather), or a collectible system (e.g., classifying objects such toy cars by shape, colour, size).

Method:

We are developing new tests of systemising, both performance measures and questionnaires such as the Systemizing Quotient (SQ), with different versions for different age groups. We are correlating individual differences in systemising with brain activity using fMRI, genetics, and prenatal hormonal levels. We are also testing if systemising correlates with tests of attention to detail and sensory sensitivity.

Results:

Results will appear on our website.

Importance:

This research helps us to understand one aspect of perception and cognition in autistic people.

Relevance:

This has relevance to how to design educational approaches for autistic children, and to identify areas of strength relevant to autistic adults in the workplace.

Selected Publications

Staff:

Funders:

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