1. Andrade C. Gestational Exposure to Antidepressants and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Offspring. J Clin Psychiatry. 2025; 87(1).

Untreated depression may adversely affect pregnancy and offspring outcomes through several mechanisms; on the flip side, antidepressants used to treat depression may cross the placenta and affect the developing fetus and its brain. This article examines the research literature on gestational exposure to antidepressants and the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) in offspring. Two recent meta-analyses and 3 subsequently published observational studies, including 1 Asian study, are reviewed with especial focus on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite limitations of the literature, some conclusions can reasonably be drawn. In unadjusted analyses, which assist an understanding of real world risks, gestational exposure to antidepressant drugs is associated with an up to doubled risk of ASD and ADHD. However, in adjusted analyses, which assist an understanding of cause-effect relationships but not real world risks, the risks substantially attenuate and may lose statistical significance. The risks also lose statistical significance in analyses that address confounding by indication by comparing antidepressant-exposed and -unexposed pregnancies in women with psychiatric disorders. The likelihood of confounding by parental genes, parental environment, and parental health-related variables is suggested by findings that antidepressants remain significantly associated with NDDs when the exposure period is outside the pregnancy window (such as before or after but not during pregnancy) or when fathers are exposed to antidepressants during pregnancy. Finally, discordant sibling pair analyses suggest that whether or not a child develops an NDD is related to whether or not its sib has an NDD rather than whether or not the child was exposed to an antidepressant in utero. Discussion points are suggested for the shared decision-making process when counseling women about NDD risks associated with gestational exposure to antidepressant drugs. Take-home messages are summarized.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

2. Bouder S, L KM, Lee D. Insomnia severity and its association with gaming behavior and perceived health in autistic adults. BMC Psychol. 2025.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

3. Caruana N, Goetz T, Nalepka P, Pellicano E. ‘Breaking down a barrier’: Autistic young people see virtual reality as a possible social support, but not a substitute for in-person interactions. Autism. 2025: 13623613251406114.

Autistic people often face challenges in face-to-face social interactions, especially in unfamiliar or high-stakes situations. Virtual reality has been proposed as a tool to support social connection by offering a more controlled and accessible environment. While previous research has focused on virtual reality-based social skills training, little is known about how autistic people experience social interactions in virtual reality. We interviewed 22 autistic young people (aged 9-22 years, M(Age) = 14.5) after they engaged in a social interaction with a stranger in immersive virtual reality. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we found that participants generally found virtual reality interactions tolerable, engaging and helpful as a low-pressure first step towards more challenging social situations. Virtual reality was valued for reducing sensory overload, increasing confidence and offering novel social opportunities. However, participants did not view virtual reality as a replacement for in-person interaction, which they saw as essential for building meaningful relationships. These findings highlight the potential of virtual reality to support autistic people by modifying the social environment rather than demanding behavioural change. They also challenge deficit-based assumptions about autistic social motivation, emphasising the importance of aligning technological supports with autistic people’s lived experiences and preferences.Lay abstractAutistic young people can find social situations stressful and overwhelming, particularly if meeting strangers in high-stakes settings (e.g. first date, job interview). Virtual reality has been suggested as a tool that might help make these interactions easier. In this study, we asked 22 autistic young people, aged 9-22, to try out a social interaction in virtual reality and then tell us about their experience. We found that most participants enjoyed using virtual reality and felt it made social interactions feel safer and less intimidating. They said virtual reality helped reduce distractions and gave them more control over how they presented themselves. Some even said it made them feel more confident when talking to others. However, young people were clear that virtual reality should not replace real-life interactions. They said that in-person contact is still important for building real connections with others. While virtual reality can be a helpful first step when interacting with new people, especially in situations that feel scary or unfamiliar, it is not a substitute for face-to-face relationships. This research shows that autistic young people value social connection and want tools that support, rather than replace, real-life interaction.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

4. Cola M, Hauptmann A, Russell A, Truong DM, Yates Flanagan A, Tena KG, Pacheco J, Zitter A, Knox A, Pelella MR, Fulop L, Covello M, Lee A, Lyons M, Schillinger S, Solórzano R, Turnacioglu S, Ravindran V, Miller JS, McCleery JP, Parish-Morris J. Short report: Autistic adults’ perceptions of gender, autism, and policing in the United States. Autism. 2025: 13623613251395539.

Autistic individuals face increased risk during police interactions in the United States, including injury and death. Research shows police behave inequitably during interactions with marginalized communities and may behave even more inequitably toward individuals with multiple minoritized identities. Many autistic people also identify as gender diverse. However, it is largely unknown if or how autistic adults’ perceptions of police differ by gender identity. We examined autistic adults’ perceptions of policing, autism, and gender using an online questionnaire. Results revealed significant differences across gender groups (cis women, cis men, gender diverse) in perceptions of justice, comfort in disclosing diagnosis, helpfulness of diagnostic disclosure, influence of gender, and concern that one’s autistic traits would be misperceived as dangerous. These findings align with widespread calls for police reform and suggest current policing practices likely do not meet the needs of all autistic individuals, particularly autistic cis women and gender diverse individuals, who are more likely to report their gender has influenced police interactions and more concerned that their autistic characteristics are being misperceived, relative to autistic cis men. Reducing the harm marginalized groups face because of systemic inequities in the current policing system is a critical need that could enhance safety for autistic individuals.Lay abstractAutistic people in the United States are at a higher risk of injury or death when they interact with the police. Research has shown that police often treat people from minoritized communities unfairly, and this can be even worse for people who belong to more than one minoritized group, like being both autistic and gender diverse. Many autistic people also identify as gender diverse. However, we do not yet know if autistic people’s views of police may differ across gender identities. In this study, we explored how autistic adults view police and if those views differ across different gender identities. We found that autistic adults with different gender identities have different views on things like justice, how comfortable they feel telling police about their autism diagnosis, whether they think telling the police about their diagnosis would be helpful, how they think their gender affects police behavior, and whether they worry that their autistic traits might be seen as dangerous. These results may indicate that the current policing practices may not take into account autistic individuals’ unique perspectives and experiences, particularly when police are interacting with autistic women and gender diverse people. It is important that we make changes to reduce the harm that autistic people face because of unfairness in the current policing system using feedback from autistic individuals. This could make things safer for all autistic people. Our results suggest it could be beneficial for police officers to receive training that is inclusive of the gender diversity within the autistic community, so they can better protect and respect all autistic people.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

5. Cole RH, Smythe L, Edwards MJ, Happé F, Nicholson TR. Exploring the autism and functional neurological disorder association: Considerations from biopsychosocial, neuropsychological and computational models. Autism. 2025: 13623613251393504.

Evidence is accumulating regarding an association between autism and functional neurological disorder, a common cause for a wide range of neurological symptoms affecting motor, sensory and cognitive systems. Symptoms can include paralysis, tremors, sensory disturbance, vision loss and dizziness. Functional neurological disorder exists at the complex intersection of physical and mental health, neurology and psychiatry, and body and mind. Despite a recent resurgence in clinical and scientific interest, functional neurological disorder has lagged behind other causes of neurological symptoms in research, service development and acceptance. The nature of the association between autism and functional neurological disorder remains uncertain, but several plausible mechanisms can be identified from overlapping areas of research, highlighting endogenous factors such as atypical interoception, motor function, emotional processing and sensorimotor integration, alongside exogenous influences including adversity, healthcare inequality and stigma. This review first provides an overview of functional neurological disorder through various explanatory frameworks before applying biopsychosocial, neuropsychological and computational perspectives to conceptualise its intersection with autism. It then considers how this association might be understood and explores how services could be adapted to better recognise and support autistic individuals with functional neurological disorder across the diagnostic and treatment pathway.Lay AbstractFunctional neurological disorder causes real and often disabling symptoms, such as seizures, paralysis, tremors or sensory changes, even though standard medical tests do not show physical damage to the nervous system. Research suggests that autistic people are more likely to experience functional neurological disorder than their non-autistic peers, but the reasons for this are not yet understood. This article explores why autism and functional neurological disorder might occur together. It draws on research into how the brain processes body signals (like pain or movement), handles emotions and responds to uncertainty. It also looks at life experiences that affect health, including trauma, barriers to healthcare and stigma. This article shows that both internal factors (such as differences in movement, emotional awareness and sensory processing) and external factors (such as stress, inequality and misdiagnosis) may increase the chances of functional neurological disorder in some autistic individuals. Several models are introduced to help explain how these influences might interact. Finally, this article outlines how healthcare services could better support autistic people with functional neurological disorder. It encourages functional neurological disorder services to adapt communication styles, provide appropriate adjustments and include autistic voices in research and treatment planning to improve care and outcomes.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

6. Devienne G, Vantomme G, Huguenard JR. Disrupted Development of the mPFC-Thalamic Circuit in Shank3(-/-) mice, an autism-associated model. Mol Psychiatry. 2025.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders with heterogeneous causes, and are characterized by communication deficits, impaired social interactions, and repetitive behaviors. Despite numerous studies in mouse models focused on pathophysiological circuit mechanisms of ASD in mature animals, little is known regarding ASD onset and its evolution through development. The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is crucial for higher-order cognitive functions and social behavior, thus key to understanding ASD pathology. To explore early developmental disruptions in the mPFC, we used the Shank3 knockout (Shank3(-/-)) mouse model. SHANK3 is crucial for glutamatergic synapse maturation, and the Shank3(-/-) mouse has been well-characterized for displaying ASD-related behavioral phenotypes. We investigated network, cellular, and synaptic changes within the mPFC and in its projections to the mediodorsal thalamus (MD) at two developmental stages, preweaning (P14) and adulthood (>P55). Our findings reveal early synaptic deficits at P14 both within the mPFC and in its projections to the MD accompanied by alterations in mPFC network activity and reduced excitability of excitatory neurons, overall suggesting hypofunction. Interestingly, behavioral deficits were already detectable by P11, preceding the observation of synaptic changes at P14. By adulthood, these early synaptic and cellular alterations progressed to global dysfunction, characterized by mPFC network hyperfunction and layer 5 pyramidal cell hyperexcitability, accompanied by augmented glutamatergic signaling to MD with enhanced action potential production. These results suggest that early synaptic changes may precede and interact with behavioral deficits, which might lead to compensatory mechanisms that contribute to more pronounced mPFC dysfunction later in development. This study highlights the complex dynamic progression of mPFC deficits in ASD and emphasizes the relevance of early synaptic alterations as potential contributors to later behavioral and cognitive deficits.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

7. Ding JJ, Du DY, Li P. [Research progress on mechanisms and clinical management of comorbid constipation in children with autism spectrum disorder]. Zhongguo Dang Dai Er Ke Za Zhi. 2025; 27(12): 1549-55.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently have comorbid gastrointestinal problems, with constipation being the most prevalent. The onset and severity of constipation are closely related to the core symptoms of ASD, and improving constipation can alleviate these core symptoms. However, the mechanisms underlying comorbid constipation in ASD remain unclear. Multidisciplinary assessment is the foundation of clinical management for comorbid constipation in ASD. Targeted pharmacological therapy, dietary interventions, gut microbiota modulation, and complementary and alternative medicine interventions can be chosen for personalized treatment. This review summarizes the mechanisms, assessment, and clinical management of comorbid constipation in ASD and aims to provide a reference for comprehensive interventions in ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

8. Hu C, Li W, Ruan M, Yu X, Deshpande S, Paul LK, Wang S, Li X. Exploiting large language models for diagnosing autism associated language disorders and identifying distinct features. NPJ Digit Med. 2025; 8(1): 763.

Diagnosing language disorders associated with autism is a complex challenge, often hampered by the subjective nature and variability of traditional assessment methods. In this study, we explored large language models (LLMs) to overcome the speed and precision obstacles by enhancing sensitivity and profiling linguistic features for autism diagnosis. This research utilizes natural language understanding capabilities of LLMs to simplify and improve the diagnostic process, focusing on identifying autism-related language patterns. We showed that the proposed method demonstrated improvements over the baseline models, with over a 10% increase in both sensitivity and positive predictive value in a zero-shot learning configuration. Combining accuracy and applicability, the framework could serve as a valuable supplementary tool within the diagnostic process for ASD-related language patterns. We identified ten key features of autism-associated language disorders across scenarios. Features such as echolalia, pronoun reversal, and atypical language usage play a critical role in diagnosing ASD and informing tailored treatment plans.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

9. Lacroix A, Tzang CC, Yu JX, Jacob BK, Alexandrovsky M, Winge-Breen A, Rodak T, Lai MC. Disproportionate mental health risks in autistic females: A rapid review with quantitative and narrative syntheses. Front Neuroendocrinol. 2025: 101229.

Mental health conditions are highly prevalent among autistic people, but an updated synthesis of sex-stratified prevalence data, contributing factors, and support strategies is lacking.To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a rapid review utilizing PRISMA-ScR guidelines. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases were searched for studies (2004-2024) including female participants with a clinical autism diagnosis, and with a focus on mental health. Of 8,420 records screened, 218 met inclusion criteria. An exploratory quantitative synthesis of population-based and registry-based studies revealed higher rates of mental health conditions in autistic females than males for anxiety, mood, eating, obsessive-compulsive, psychotic, and personality disorders. Narrative synthesis identified moderating factors, including sex-related physiology, gendered experiences, age, age at autism diagnosis, autism characteristics, and co-occurring conditions. Biological and social mechanisms likely interact as contributing factors. Severe consequences of poor mental health underscore the need for tailored approaches accounting for the specific profiles of autistic females.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

10. Magidigidi-Mathiso L, Frantz J, Filies G. Community-based primary care approaches to supporting families of children with developmental disabilities: Experts’ perspectives using the capabilities framework. S Afr Fam Pract (2004). 2025; 67(1): e1-e8.

BACKGROUND: Families raising children with developmental disabilities face complex, interconnected challenges requiring coordinated support across multiple professional domains. While interdisciplinary collaboration is widely endorsed in policy and practice guidelines, significant knowledge gaps exist regarding how healthcare professionals operationalise these collaborative approaches in real-world settings. METHODS: A qualitative study was conducted using individual semi-structured interviews with 12 experts representing diverse disciplines. The study was grounded in the Capabilities Approach as both a theoretical lens and a methodological framework. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s six-step thematic analysis, with the Capabilities Approach framework informing each analytical phase. RESULTS: Five major themes emerged from the capability-guided analysis: facilitating emotional transformation, building system navigation competence, creating inclusive participation opportunities, strengthening family functioning and fostering adaptive identity development. Across all themes, participants consistently emphasised three critical mechanisms for effective interdisciplinary support: coordinated care delivery as capability enhancement, comprehensive emotional support as capability development and whole-family capability strengthening interventions. CONCLUSION: The findings highlight the significance of interdisciplinary approaches informed by the Capabilities Approach in providing comprehensive support for parents of children with developmental disabilities. Rather than traditional deficit-focused models, participants systematically described how they enhance family capabilities by functioning as capability facilitators who orchestrate conversion factors, build emotional capabilities while respecting family agency and create environmental modifications that expand family possibilities.Contribution: This study contributes a novel capability-focused framework for understanding interdisciplinary collaboration in developmental disability support, moving beyond traditional service coordination models to emphasise systematic capability enhancement approaches that build sustainable family strengths across multiple domains simultaneously.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

11. Maltman N, Wynn CJ, Wynn EA, Sterling A. The impact of individual factors on linguistic alignment of autistic boys and their mothers. Autism. 2025: 13623613251395538.

Linguistic alignment reflects shared linguistic behaviors (e.g. syntax and lexicon) between interlocutors. Recent work has examined whether autistic children align to the same degree as their non-autistic peers, with current findings inconclusive. This study took an in-depth approach to investigating factors contributing to variation in linguistic alignment among autistic individuals. Eighteen school-age and adolescent autistic male participants, 14 males with fragile X syndrome + autism, and their mothers participated in the study. Dyads engaged in an unstructured conversation for ~12 min. Using Bayesian linear mixed-effect models, we assessed the relationships between alignment and within-individual factors of the participants. Lexical and syntactic alignment were uniquely influenced by within-participant factors. Maternal lexical and syntactic alignment were differentially associated with participant cognitive and expressive language abilities, and according to etiology (fragile X syndrome + autism vs idiopathic autism). This study highlights the complexity of alignment in autistic individuals and their mothers. Results suggest that alignment is a dynamic process that is motivated in part by within-individual traits of their children. Consequently, characterizing alignment in autism requires a highly nuanced and thoughtful approach that accounts for the heterogeneity of the population. Shared Language Use in Conversations Between Mothers and Their Autistic SonsDuring conversations, we tend to use the same kinds of words as our partners, which is an important skill that helps language development. Researchers have explored this phenomenon among autistic individuals and have not found consistent differences from non-autistic individuals. The current study examined how mothers and their autistic sons communicate with each other during conversations to see the extent to which they used similar words and grammar.We included 32 school-age and adolescent male participants (18 autism, 14 fragile X + autism) and their mothers. Participants and their mothers talked together how they normally would for 12 min. We transcribed everything they said and evaluated how much they used the same words and grammar as each other. We also looked at how other characteristics, like IQ and language skills, influenced how much they were similar in their language.We found that mothers and their sons used the same kinds of words at a rate greater than chance. Mothers used similar language as their sons more often when their son had greater language skills. Mothers who had children with fragile X + autism were more likely to use similar words as their son.This study showed that using the same words and grammar is a very dynamic process that depends in part on language and cognition between two speakers. It is important that future research in this area takes a detailed and thoughtful approach to analysis. eng.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

12. Mashayekhi F, Salehi Z. Autism spectrum disorder genetics; a comprehensive review. Rev Neurosci. 2025; 36(8): 881-900.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a condition that is defined by difficulties in social interactions, communication challenges, and repetitive behaviors. ASD is a common condition, with a significant rise in the number of diagnosed children observed in recent decades. As of 2021, it is estimated that 1 in 44 children in the USA is affected by ASD. The disorder shows a notably higher prevalence in boys compared to girls, with a ratio exceeding four to one. Several genetic changes have been linked to ASD. Various common gene variations are believed to influence the likelihood of developing the condition. Genetic factors are estimated to contribute to 40-80 % of the overall risk associated with ASD. The combined risk from genetic variations along with environmental influences – such as older parental age, birth complications, and various unknown factors – determines an individual’s likelihood of developing this intricate condition. Many of the genes associated with ASD play a role in processes related to brain development. The proteins encoded by these genes impact various elements of brain development, including the proliferation, growth, and organization of neurons and synaptogenesis. Some genes control the number of neurons produced, while others are essential for the development and functioning of synapses. Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between genetic variants and the risk of ASD. In this article, we discuss the functions of key genes associated with synapse formation and environmental factors including valproic acid and immunological perturbation with the development of ASD.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

13. Miles MR, Golm D, Palmer-Cooper E. The association between autism and psychosis and the tools used to measure it: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Br J Clin Psychol. 2025.

OBJECTIVES: Autistic individuals are at increased risk of psychotic experiences and being diagnosed with psychotic disorders. This association may result from methodological issues, including the misinterpretation of psychosis questionnaires by autistic individuals and clinicians’ difficulty distinguishing between the conditions. DESIGN: This meta-analysis aimed to review this association and examine whether it is moderated by the assessment measures used. METHODS: Systematic searches were conducted in PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase and Web of Science. Included studies required autism and psychosis-spectrum measurements, co-morbidity data, adult participants and quantitative data. Quality and risk of bias were assessed using the AXIS Critical Appraisal of Cross-Sectional Studies tool. Analyses examined correlations, odds ratios and Cohen’s d as effects. RESULTS: Sixty-three papers (N = 6,903,960) were included. Associations were found between autistic and overall (r = .435, p < .0001), positive (r = .274, p < .0001), negative (r = .506, p < .0001) and disorganized (r = .366, p < .0001) psychosis-spectrum traits. Individuals with one condition had an increased risk of being diagnosed with the other (OR = 7.03, p < .001) and scored higher on trait measures of the other (d = 1.187, p < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: These meta-analyses evidence a strong association between autism and the psychosis spectrum, at both trait and diagnostic levels. Negative psychosis-spectrum traits were most strongly linked with autistic traits, while measures of positive traits showed weaker correlations, suggesting overlaps in expression and measurement. High heterogeneity and inconsistent reporting, however, hinder the certainty of conclusions, and research is required to better understand this overlap.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

14. Ravichandran I, Kannapiran RT, Ramadass A, Reuben J, Sujeetha B, Srinivas P. Development and Validation of a Home-based Psychosocial Intervention Module for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Indian J Psychol Med. 2025: 02537176251400234.

BACKGROUND: Despite its high prevalence, autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents specific difficulties for families, especially in India. Where access to early and affordable treatment is limited. Parents often struggle to manage behavioral and developmental issues due to shortages of trained professionals and high therapy costs. This study aimed to develop and validate a culturally appropriate, low-cost, home-based psychosocial intervention module for parents of children with ASD. This study presents the development and validation of a culturally relevant, home-based psychosocial intervention module for parents of children with ASD in India. Unlike previous research that often focused on clinic-based or resource-intensive interventions, this module integrates evidence-based strategies with parental perspectives and expert input to address real-world challenges in resource-limited settings. Its novelty lies in combining child-focused techniques with parental well-being strategies within a structured eight-session format. By emphasizing accessibility, cultural sensitivity, and feasibility, this work contributes a practical and scalable model that complements existing treatments and bridges critical service gaps. METHODS: The study was conducted in two phases between August 2022 and November 2023. Phase I (development of module): The module was systematically developed through literature review, semi-structured parent interviews, and multidisciplinary expert consultations to identify culturally relevant and feasible intervention components. The preliminary module, consisting of eight structured sessions that integrate behavioral, communication, and emotional regulation strategies derived from Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and play therapy principles, was developed based on these inputs. Phase II (validation): The drafted module underwent content and face validation by 15 domain experts using structured rating scales, and item-content validity index (I-CVI) values were computed for each session. RESULTS: The development phase identified key parental challenges, including limited access to therapy, stigma, and financial constraints. In the validation phase, experts rated all module items as highly relevant (I-CVI = 0.86-1.00). Qualitative feedback emphasized the module’s clarity, contextual relevance, and practicality for Indian families. CONCLUSION: The validated intervention module offers a practical, evidence-based framework for ASD interventions in resource-limited settings. A further pilot study will evaluate its acceptability, usability, and impact on parental outcomes and symptom management.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

15. Saad K, Hussain SA, Ahmad AR, Elfarargy MS, Elhoufey A, Al-Atram AA, Abdelal AN, Mohamed KR, Embaby MM. The evolving role of machine learning in autism spectrum disorder: current evidence and future directions. Pediatr Res. 2025.

Machine learning (ML) has become a key factor in advancing artificial intelligence (AI)-driven strategies across various areas in recent years, including screening, diagnosis, subtyping, and therapeutic intervention in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These technological advancements collectively demonstrate ML’s potential to complement-rather than replace-expert clinical assessment in the screening and diagnosis of ASD. Future research should focus on standardizing data collection procedures, improving the interpretability of models, and conducting multi-center validation studies to confirm their effectiveness and applicability in real-world settings.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

16. Scarcella I, Campisi S, Previti GS, Bruschetta R, La Corte A, Tartarisco G, Pioggia G, Marino F. Digital motor markers for early autism detection: promise, pitfalls, and a path to clinics. Front Psychiatry. 2025; 16: 1720138.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

17. Tager-Flusberg H. Debate: Standing up for science – how to combat misinformation in child mental health: protecting the integrity of autism research and practice in the United States. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2025.

In 2025, the Coalition of Autism Scientists was formed to counter the misinformation and pseudoscience that was being advanced at the highest levels of the federal government in the United States. The background and history of how the Coalition was formed and its major activities, which include regular meetings, issuing public statements, and providing information and interviews to the media, are described. The importance of engaging in active advocacy in support of autism science is discussed along with some examples of the Coalition’s impact. Given the direction that politics is going, sowing greater dissent between science and the public, continued vigilance in support of the highest quality research is critical if we are to meet the urgent needs of autistic people and their families.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

18. Wang L, Sun M. Autistic traits influence aesthetic judgments of abstract color works. BMC Psychol. 2025.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by atypicalities in both social and non-social behaviors, yet little is known about how autistic traits influence aesthetic judgments. This study investigated the impact of autism tendencies, measured by the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), on aesthetic evaluations of abstract color works. We recruited 111 university students to rate the colorfulness of, and their liking for, images composed of geometric color shapes. The hues of these shapes were systematically varied in terms of both their perceptual distance and categorical membership. Results demonstrate that larger hue distances enhanced both colorfulness and liking ratings. Critically, higher AQ was associated with reduced liking for color combinations with larger perceptual distances and for those spanning different color categories. Furthermore, although AQ scores demonstrated an overall negative association with both colorfulness and liking ratings, the strength of this association was highly hue-dependent, peaking in purple-pink regions and diminishing to minimal levels in approximately yellow-green areas. Notably, the patterns of hue-dependent modulation differed between colorfulness and liking ratings. While colorfulness ratings showed a consistently negative relationship with AQ across hues, liking ratings displayed a biphasic pattern, transitioning from relatively enhanced preference in the green-cyan region to strongly reduced liking in the purple-pink region. It is suggested that autistic traits influence perceptual and affective dimensions of color experience through partially distinct mechanisms. These findings reveal the nuanced role of autistic traits in shaping aesthetic experience, highlighting dissociable effects on low-level perceptual processing versus higher-order aesthetic evaluation.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)

19. Wang Y, Hou Q, Wei F, Liu B, Feng Q. MNetClass: a control-free microbial network clustering framework for identifying central subcommunities across ecological niches. mSystems. 2025; 10(12): e0098925.

Investigating microbiome subnetworks and identifying central microbes in specific ecological niches is a critical issue in human microbiome studies. Traditional methods typically require control samples, limiting the ability to study microbiomes at distinct body sites without matched controls. Moreover, some clustering methods are not well-suited for microbial data and fail to identify central subcommunities across ecological niches after clustering. In this study, we present MNetClass, a novel microbial network clustering analysis framework. It utilizes a random walk algorithm and a rank-sum ratio-entropy weight evaluation model to classify key subnetworks and identify central microbes at any body site, without the need for control samples. We demonstrate its capabilities on both simulated and real microbiome data sets. Simulation results indicate that MNetClass outperforms current unsupervised microbial clustering methods. In applied case studies, the analysis of microbiome data from five distinct oral sites revealed site-specific microbial communities. Furthermore, MNetClass demonstrated superior predictive performance on cross-cohort Autism Spectrum Disorder data and identified age-related microbial communities across different oral sites, underscoring its broad applicability in microbiome research.IMPORTANCEMNetClass provides a valuable tool for microbiome network analysis, enabling the identification of key microbial subcommunities across diverse ecological niches. Implemented as an R package (https://github.com/YihuaWWW/MNetClass), it offers broad accessibility for researchers. Here, we systematically benchmarked MNetClass against existing microbial clustering methods on synthetic data using various performance metrics, demonstrating its superior efficacy. Notably, MNetClass operates without the need for control groups and effectively identifies central microbes, highlighting its potential as a robust framework for advancing microbiome research.

Lien vers le texte intégral (Open Access ou abonnement)