1. Ai W, Yu JX, Jacob BK, Lai MC. A novel context-discrepancy assessment of impression management facets in autistic and non-autistic adults: an initial validation. Mol Autism;2026 (Apr 10)

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2. Alwi N, Zanudin A, Ahmad M, Mohamad NA. Effectiveness of a structured physiotherapy intervention on psychomotor and quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomised controlled trial protocol. MethodsX;2026 (Jun);16:103873.

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) frequently experience psychomotor impairments, limited participation in physical activities, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Exercise shows promising benefits, but physiotherapy approaches in ASD are underreported, with limited evidence supporting a structured framework that systematically targets motor and functional outcomes. This study protocol describes a single-blinded randomised controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of a structured physiotherapy intervention on motor skills, physical activity levels, and behavioural and QoL among children with mild to moderate ASD. This trial will include 64 children aged 6-10 years with ASD. Participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group or a control group. Both groups will receive usual care therapy, equated between groups. The intervention group will also receive structured physiotherapy twice weekly for 12 weeks, each session lasting 60 min. The intervention integrates coordination, balance, strength, and endurance training. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline and post-intervention using validated instruments: GARS-3, BOT-2, GLTEQ, CBCL and PedsQL. Data analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle and will examine between-group and within-group changes across all outcome measures. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis to characterise themes reflecting participants’ engagement and parents’ and caregivers’ perspectives on the intervention.

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3. Bottema-Beutel K. When Ableism Supplants Evidence: Federal Autism Guidance in the United States. Autism;2026 (Apr 10):13623613261439928.

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4. Bottema-Beutel K, Hinson-Williams J, Shen Y, Guo R, Brayton S, Alicea J, LaPoint S. A 5-Year Update of Conflicts of Interest in Autism Intervention Research in Applied Behavior Analysis Journals. Autism;2026 (Apr 9):13623613261433165.

Researchers’ false, incomplete, or missing disclosures of conflicts of interest (COIs) can introduce bias into research, can erode public trust in research findings, and represent ethical violations of most academic journal policies. A 2020 study discovered that publications in applied behavior analysis (ABA) journals are particularly problematic in adherence to COI disclosure ethics. The current study is a 5-year update of this previously conducted study. We examined autism intervention research articles published over a 1-year period in eight ABA journals. Two coders extracted author names and COI disclosure statements from each study and conducted web searches to determine if authors were affiliated with organizations providing ABA services or consulting. One hundred and nineteen studies met our inclusion criteria, from which we compiled a database of 450 authors. Seventy-eight percent of authors held clinical and/or consultancy COIs. At the study level, 93% of studies were written by at least one author with a clinical and/or consultancy COI. Only 8% of studies disclosed any author COIs, and only 2% disclosed clinical and/or consultancy COIs. Ninety-three percent of statements claiming no COIs were false. COIs are increasingly pervasive in ABA autism intervention research, and the vast majority remain undisclosed.Lay AbstractThis study looked at how often researchers who publish about autism interventions in journals focused on one type of intervention called Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) tell readers about their conflicts of interest (COIs). COIs happen when researchers benefit from showing something specific in their research, such as an intervention making things better for autistic people. The COIs we looked at are when researchers also receive money to provide ABA to autistic people or help other researchers provide ABA to autistic people (i.e., they worked as a consultant). COIs can negatively affect how research is designed, interpreted, and presented. We wanted to see if researchers tell readers about their COIs, or if they say they do not have COIs when they do. We reviewed autism-related intervention papers published over 1 year in eight ABA journals. For every paper, we copied the COI statement. Then, we searched online to see if authors were working as or consulting with ABA service providers. We looked at 119 papers with a total of 450 authors. This study is a five-year update of a 2020 study that found widespread but rarely reported financial COIs among ABA researchers. In our updated study, we found that 78% of authors had a COI. Some worked in ABA clinics, some offered paid consulting to other ABA providers, and some did both. Almost all papers (93%) had at least one author with these kinds of connections. But very few (8%) mentioned any COIs, and only 2% of papers stated that the authors worked as ABA providers or consultants. Most papers said the authors had no conflicts at all, but this was often not true. In fact, 93% of « no COI » statements were false. Although more ABA journals now require disclosure than in the past, many statements are still inaccurate, showing that the problem has not improved. The people in charge of publishing research, and the people who write research papers, need to do much better to let readers know about researchers’ COIs.

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5. Coleman A, Fitzwater BM, Harden PA, McColl C, Forrest J, Bailey B. Child Autism Spectrum Disorder Following Maternal Abuse and Trauma History. J Autism Dev Disord;2026 (Apr 10)

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6. Dickinson A, Booth M, Huberty S, Ryan D, Campbell A, Girault JB, Miller N, Lau B, Zempel J, Webb SJ, Elison J, Lee AK, Estes A, Dager SR, Hazlett H, Wolff J, Schultz R, Marrus N, Evans A, Piven J, Pruett JR, Jeste S. Visual Cortical Response Variability in Infants at High Familial Likelihood for Autism. bioRxiv;2026 (Mar 9)

Visual processing undergoes rapid refinement in the first year of life, supporting the emergence of higher-order cognitive, language, and motor functions. Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) provide a non-invasive measure of visual system maturation that may shed light on heterogeneous developmental trajectories among infants at high familial likelihood for autism. Infants with an older sibling with autism spectrum disorder (N = 177 at 6 months; N = 132 at 12 months) participated in the Infant Brain Imaging Study-Early Prediction (IBIS-EP) study. Pattern-reversal VEPs were recorded at 6 and 12 months, and developmental skills were assessed at 24 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Bayley-III). VEP components were characterized by P1 amplitude, latency, and trial-to-trial variability in latency. Associations with 24-month cognitive, language, and motor scores were examined using general linear models controlling for age, site, sex, and trial count. Robust VEPs were observed at both timepoints, showing age-appropriate morphology and expected developmental changes, including decreases in P1 latency and amplitude from 6 to 12 months. Greater trial-to-trial variability in P1 latency at both timepoints was significantly associated with higher cognitive and language scores at 24 months. Variability in visual cortical response timing was the strongest neural correlate of developmental skills in infancy. These findings suggest that temporal variability in early neural responses may reflect adaptive sensory circuit flexibility rather than inefficiency, potentially facilitating experience-dependent tuning of visual pathways. VEPs offer a mechanistic window into how developing sensory systems scaffold individual differences in early developmental trajectories. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Trial-to-trial variability in visual cortical response timing predicts cognitive and language outcomes at 24 months in infants at familial likelihood for autism.Mean P1 latency did not predict outcomes, suggesting variability is a more sensitive early neural marker than average response timing.Greater neural response variability in infancy may reflect adaptive sensory circuit flexibility rather than noise or inefficient processing.VEP-based biomarkers provide a scalable mechanistic window into how early sensory processing scaffolds cognitive and language development.

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7. Dubuc A, Renne T, Huguet G, Jacquemont S, Nowakowski T. Linking rare variants to cell-type function in profound autism with brain transcriptomics and foundation models. Cell Genom;2026 (Apr 8);6(4):101192.

Genetic association studies have identified numerous genes harboring protein-disrupting variants in individuals with profound autism, but identifying convergent points of vulnerability remains challenging. We discuss how brain transcriptomic resources help decode the cellular consequences of these rare gene-disrupting variants. The functional interpretation of genetic associations has largely relied on gene ontologies and protein-interaction networks, with newer approaches leveraging single-cell expression to estimate cellular enrichment. However, the broad expression of many autism-associated genes confounds cell-type-specific effects. We therefore propose a framework quantifying the trade-off between a gene’s cell-type specificity and sensitivity. The limited overlap between genetic associations and transcriptomic alterations in autistic brains prompts a discussion about causality. We examine whether foundation models linking genetic variation to cell-type transcriptomes could clarify the cellular functions affected by autism-associated variants. By combining experimental perturbations, artificial-intelligence-driven inference, and postmortem validation, we propose a unifying mechanistic framework for rare-variant liability in autism.

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8. Elfina ML. Preparing autistic workers in work adjustment: Employer and employee perspective analysis. Afr J Disabil;2026;15:1794.

BACKGROUND: The value of diversity in human resources, particularly empowering employees with disabilities as assets, has been investigated by industry. Even in an era of economic expansion, the existence of workers with disabilities, particularly those with autism, is stigmatised. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to understand how employees with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) adjust their work and how their employers view their performance. METHOD: Mixed method design is the method used in this study. By purposive sampling, three employees with ASD were chosen as the main subjects, and their degree of job adjustment was assessed using the Work Adjustment Illinois Scale (WAIS). Three employers were also interviewed in depth to get qualitative data. Validity, reliability and normality checks were all part of quantitative analysis. Work Adjustment Illinois Scale scores are also categorised using a statistical method (mean ± standard deviation) before qualitative analysis is performed using the interactive analysis method. RESULTS: The results show that the majority of workers with ASD exhibited moderate to high degrees of work adjustment. Self-confidence, the necessity of structural modification, and the significance of employer comprehension were among the themes that surfaced from the processing of the qualitative data. CONCLUSION: Workers with ASD are able to make good work adjustments when facilitated with work adjustments from both the individual themselves and support from their workplace. CONTRIBUTION: In order to support the continued professional success of people with ASD, the study highlights the necessity of inclusive work rules and training for supervisors and coworkers to support the wellbeing of workers with autism.

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9. Guo S, Zhang H, Wang J, Wang M. Resilience interventions for the family with autistic children: a systematic review. Front Psychol;2026;17:1760817.

OBJECTIVES: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition in which parenting presents considerable challenges. Family resilience is a critical protective factor against adversity. This systematic review aims to identify and evaluate family resilience interventions, based on experimental study designs, for families of children with ASD. METHODS: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we searched 5 electronic databases for peer-reviewed studies published in English prior to July 2025. Eligible studies were empirical studies employing randomized controlled trials (RCT) or quasi-experimental designs; targeted parents/caregivers of children with a clinical diagnosed of ASD; focused on enhancing family resilience; and used validated quantitative measures. Two authors independently screened titles, abstracts, and full texts, extracted study characteristics, and assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane tool. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion or consultation with a third author. RESULTS: Nine studies were ultimately included. Most interventions were delivered in person, and participants were predominantly mothers. Two primary intervention orientations were identified, family-centered and individual-centered. The majority of studies were conducted in Western countries. Eight studies reported medium to large effect sizes for improvement in family resilience, while 1 study did not report sufficient statistics to calculate effect size. CONCLUSION: Despite certain limitations, the findings of this review suggest that future studies should consider cultural differences and contextual adaptation when implementing interventions across diverse cultural settings. The review also highlights the importance of accounting for the differing profiles, needs and preferences of mothers and fathers of children with ASD when designing and facilitating interventions.

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10. Horien C, Mandino F, Corriveau A, Greene AS, O’Connor D, Shen X, Keller AS, Baller EB, Chun MM, Finn ES, Chawarska K, Lake EM, Scheinost D, Satterthwaite TD, Rosenberg MD, Constable RT. Feature consistency in transdiagnostic connectome-based models of sustained attention and autism symptoms. medRxiv;2026 (Apr 7)

Sustained attention is an important neurobiological process. Difficulties with attention play a key role in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism. Here, we identified functional connections consistently associated with sustained attention across datasets, participant populations, and fMRI scan types. We interrogated five transdiagnostic, previously published connectome-based models predicting attention and autistic phenotypes. All models were related to sustained attention, including in samples comprising participants with autism. We found that model similarity was associated with participant characteristics, including age and clinical diagnosis, and predicted behavioral measure. As expected, models predicting attention phenotypes shared more similar features with each other than models predicting autism symptoms. Furthermore, predictive features overlapped more between datasets that included participants of similar ages (i.e., youth vs. adult) and diagnostic status (autism diagnosis vs. no diagnosis). This suggests that functional connectivity patterns predicting individual differences in behavior are phenotype-specific and may vary as a function of age and clinical diagnosis.

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11. Kocyigit S, Akgun-Dogan O, Hatırnaz Ng O, Alanay Y, Guven F. Pilot study: the impact of simulation-based pediatric basic life support training on the performance of caregivers of children with Rett syndrome. BMC Med Educ;2026 (Apr 10)

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12. Lamb JW, Pieroni EM, Khawaja FA, Deinhardt K, O’Connor VM, Dillon JC. Sensory and developmental phenotyping of C. elegans parses autism associated genes into behavioural classifications. bioRxiv;2026 (Mar 30)

A large subset of ASD associated genes, almost 50% of the highest confidence risk genes listed on the Simons Foundation Autism Research Institute database, are epigenetic modifiers. This suggests that the organization of sensory biology and its coupling to underlying genetic control are an important element underpinning this discord. Furthermore, sensory processing changes in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been a growing area of study in recent years. C. elegans have robust readouts for both developmental and sensory biology allowing these signatures of ASD to be systematically modelled. 52 epigenetic modifiers (65 strains) were selected for study in C. elegans based on gene function, presence of orthologues in C. elegans and the availability of viable putative null strains. This highlighted significant changes to reproduction, gross development and sensory processing across the range of epigenetic modifiers. Each strain was filtered against selective criteria for significant sensory and developmental phenotypes allowing for selective phenotypic profiles to emerge. These were three primary groups, those with sensory perturbations but unaffected gross development (6), developmentally affected genes with intact sensory function (10) and finally genes with impaired gross development and sensory function (11). Thus, this study provides a link between sensory and developmental outcomes in ASD associated mutant strains and suggests that more regular sensory testing should be performed in human cohorts to further refine sub-categorisation of ASD cohorts.

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13. Laurén K, Järvelä M, Huotari N, Raitamaa L, Kananen J, Tuunanen J, Väyrynen T, Korhonen V, Hautamäki K, Hurtig T, Mattila ML, Jussila K, Kiviniemi V. Increased intracranial very low frequency pulsation power in central brain regions of high-functioning young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Neuroimage;2026 (Apr 7);332:121908.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly diagnosed neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent difficulties in social communication and restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior and sensory processing that leads to functional impairment. The diagnosis of ASD relies on behavioral and clinical assessment as there are no currently available biomarkers. Recent brain imaging studies have suggested abnormalities in the brain fluid flow in individuals with ASD. Cardiorespiratory and vasomotion-induced very low frequency (VLF ≤ 0.1 Hz) brain pulsations are now considered to facilitate the cerebrospinal- and interstitial fluid exchange in the brain, thus contributing to maintaining cerebral homeostasis and fluid clearance. In this study, we utilized ultrafast resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to capture and compare the powers of each physiological pulsation in groups of 18 young adults diagnosed with ASD and 19 neurotypical controls (NTC). We further probed the clinical significance of findings by undertaking regression analyses examining the associations of both Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores with pulsation powers, and by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. Compared to the NTC group, the ASD group showed significantly higher VLF pulsation power, which was located predominantly in subcortical grey matter nuclei and the white matter, indicating increased vasomotor power in ASD. In addition, the individual VLF power enabled good accuracy (ROC area under the curve = 75%-93%) for discriminating ASD subjects from NTCs. In conclusion, present findings of increased VLF power are postulated as possible indication of altered driving force of cerebral neurofluid dynamics and could potentially serve as a useful clinical classifier.

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14. Lichtor SA, Berk R, Gimler K, Siegel M. Communicating Constipation: Differential Diagnosis of Agitation in Autism at a Pediatric Hospital. Pediatrics;2026 (Apr 10)

Constipation is a common concern for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Many children with ASD also experience episodes of behavioral dysregulation; however, few studies have explored the relationship between constipation and dysregulation among youth with ASD, particularly for those with limited verbal communication ability. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy with ASD with accompanying language impairment, moderate intellectual disability, and longstanding gastrointestinal symptoms, including constipation and encopresis, who had an extended (120+ day) hospitalization in a quaternary care pediatric hospital while awaiting an inpatient psychiatric placement. Throughout his hospitalization, this patient presented with frequent and seemingly spontaneous episodes of behavioral dysregulation, characterized by self-injurious behavior, fecal smearing, and aggression toward others. The hospital’s inpatient board-certified behavior analyst tracked potential antecedents to these behaviors through the completion of a functional behavior assessment. This assessment demonstrated a relationship between frequency of stooling and occurrence of dysregulated episodes and prompted an increased focus on treatment of constipation. With aggressive treatment of his constipation, the frequency of his behavioral dysregulation decreased. This case highlights the value of conducting formal behavioral assessment within a hospital setting to determine the function of dysregulated behaviors, particularly for patients with communication deficits. This case also highlights the importance of conceptualizing dysregulated behaviors as potentially secondary to a medical concern that needs to be addressed before considering psychiatric hospitalization.

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15. López Torres V. [Not Available]. Vertex;2026 (Apr 10);37(171, ene.-mar.):41-49.

Las alteraciones socio-comunicacionales involucradas en el fenómeno del autismo hacen que quienes lo habitan (autistas y no autistas) tengan dificultades para identificar lo que sienten y quieren de la relación. El trabajo del psiquiatra Marcelo Pakman sobre la singularidad del sentido en el ámbito de la salud mental, ofrece la ruta teórica y metodológica en la que se fundamenta esta investigación, la cual, mediante un enfoque cualitativo y un diseño de estudio de caso, se propone indagar y presentar singularidades, es decir, situaciones atípicas que fomentan la construcción de relaciones que aprovechen oportunidades de conexión social no convencionales. Para ello se estudió la autobiografía de Temple Grandin: « Atravesando las puertas del autismo: una historia de esperanza y recuperación », específicamente, se aborda la experiencia de la invención de la « máquina de apretar » o también llamada « máquina de los abrazos ». Se identificaron las posibilidades alternativas de ser y estar con los demás que se dieron alrededor de dicho artefacto, al permitir la interrupción de los patrones rígidos desde los cuales pueden sostenerse algunos de los estereotipos derivados del diagnóstico clínico.

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16. Maffei MF, Iverson JM. Many Moving Parts: A Motor-Based Perspective on Developmental Speech and Language Research in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. J Speech Lang Hear Res;2026 (Apr 10);69(4):1643-1651.

Research interest in the motor skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) such as autism spectrum disorder and developmental language disorder is growing, for purposes including the prediction of language outcomes. Gross, fine, and oral motor skills are each associated with language development. However, research within these motor domains has largely proceeded along separate paths, with few studies examining how they codevelop and interact with language in children with NDDs. We propose that a unified developmental framework integrating these motor domains could enhance the prediction of language outcomes and the characterization of diverse clinical populations.

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17. Marsicano G, Deodato M, Melcher D. Atypical integration of temporal evidence and priors in causality judgment along the autism-schizotypy continuum. iScience;2026 (Apr 17);29(4):115325.

Perceptual inference arises from integrating sensory evidence with prior knowledge. Causality perception-deciding whether one event causes another-offers a window into this process. We examined how prior experience and individual differences shape causal inference in 150 neurotypical individuals spanning the autism-schizotypy (ASD-SSD) spectrum. Participants judged causality in dynamic collision events with varying temporal delays. Causality judgments were influenced by physical timing (sensory driven) and serial dependence on previous decisions (prior driven). SSD-like individuals showed the strongest serial dependence and ASD-like individuals the weakest. Hierarchical drift diffusion modeling revealed increased causality bias and lower decision thresholds in SSD-like individuals, reflecting a prior-dominated style. ASD-like individuals showed reduced perceptual-history influence and higher thresholds, indicating a sensory-driven approach. Crucially, prior biases and perceptual history were interrelated, suggesting a hierarchical organization of perceptual inference across timescales and linking causality perception to predictive processes shaped by distinct cognitive-perceptual profiles.

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18. Mathur M, Tang J, Markham C, McKay S, Li R, Ernest D, Marshall A, Sharma S. A Qualitative Analysis of Pediatricians’ Perspectives Regarding Barriers, Facilitators, and Strategies for Providing Timely Autism Spectrum Disorder Screening and Diagnosis. Clin Med Insights Pediatr;2026 (Apr 6):11795565261431178.

BACKGROUND: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disorder that has increased in prevalence over the years. Diagnosis and subsequent intervention by the age of 3 is essential for development. However, recent estimates indicate that less than 50% of children receive an evaluation by age 3. Underserved populations are more likely to receive an evaluation at an older age. Several barriers in the diagnostic process have been identified; however, limited studies have aimed at understanding the specifics of these barriers among underserved populations and whether current strategies are beneficial for all children. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to identify barriers and strategies, as reported by pediatricians serving underserved populations, to enhance timely screening and diagnosis of ASD. DESIGN: A qualitative study was conducted. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with general pediatricians and subspecialists (N = 14) practicing in the Greater Houston area, Texas. Thematic analysis was conducted using inductive reasoning. RESULTS: Participants were majority White (50%), female (79%), practicing in hospital-based settings (64%), with 3 to 5 years of professional experience (64%) and a mean age of 50 years. Three themes were identified (1) barriers causing delays in ASD screening and diagnosis; (2) individualized approaches in pediatric care to address barriers, and (3) recommendations to improve timely ASD screening and diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The results of this study identified potential strategies to overcome access, availability, and knowledge barriers; however, the lack of standardization across the health system results in the continued reporting of significant barriers. Using a health equity approach is key to ensure improvements in timely screening and diagnosing by tailoring strategies to the population being served. Health systems should work on expanding and evaluating identified strategies. Additionally, improve education for providers and parents to address parental hesitancy, increase attendance with routine well-child checks, and improve ASD evaluation referrals.

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19. Mazer P, Pasion R, Rao ZK, Silveira C, Ferreira-Santos F. Analysis of Task Demand Effects on Visual and Auditory Mismatch Negativity (MMN) Across Autistic and Schizotypal Traits. Eur J Neurosci;2026 (Apr);63(7):e70490.

Mismatch negativity (MMN) is an event-related potential component elicited by violations of sensory predictions and is widely interpreted, within the predictive processing framework, as a neural correlate of prediction error. Disruptions in prediction error signalling have been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying the diverse cognitive and perceptual profiles observed in autism and schizophrenia spectrum conditions. In this study, 122 community participants completed auditory and visual oddball tasks with two levels of target detection difficulty while undergoing EEG recording, alongside self-report measures of autistic and schizotypal traits. We found that increased task difficulty significantly reduced MMN amplitude in both modalities, with large effect sizes for auditory (d = 1.826) and visual (d = 1.005) MMN, indicating a modulation by perceptual load. Although associations between MMN amplitude and trait dimensions were limited, emerging patterns suggest a potential dissociation between social and nonsocial autistic traits. These findings address key gaps in the literature, particularly the underrepresentation of visual MMN, and highlight the importance of multidimensional, cross-modal approaches to investigate prediction error mechanisms in neurodiverse populations.

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20. Nürnberg D, Altgassen M. Event- and Time-Based Prospective Memory and Time Perception in Autistic Adults With and Without Intellectual Disabilities. Autism Res;2026 (Apr 9):e70250.

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. Time perception, how someone understands the passing of time, and prospective memory, the ability to remember what you want to do in the future, were investigated in autistic and non‐autistic participants with and without intellectual disabilities. The prospective memory performance was the same for both groups. Autistic participants had difficulties with naturalistic time perception compared to non‐autistic controls. For both groups, performance in prospective memory and time perception was related; better memory for future intentions was associated with better time perception. A better understanding of time might help autistic individuals improve their prospective memory. eng

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21. Rasool A, Ahmad F, Bunterngchit C, Aslam S. Challenges in translating AI-driven ASD/ADHD diagnosis: A methodological systematic review. Int J Med Inform;2026 (Apr 4);214:106417.

BACKGROUND: Early and accurate diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), remains a critical challenge in pediatric care. Traditional methods rely on subjective behavioral assessments that are time-intensive and prone to bias. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review synthesizes biomedical informatics methodologies using deep learning-driven computer vision to enable objective, data-driven diagnostic decision support for pediatric NDDs. METHODS: Following PRISMA guidelines, we searched Web of Science and Scopus (2020-2024), identifying 43 Q1/Q2 studies. Four informatics-focused research questions were addressed: multimodal feature extraction, deep learning architectures, high-performing strategies, and robust data integration challenges. Methodological quality and bias were assessed using the APPRAISE-AI framework. RESULTS: Multimodal fusion and hybrid informatics pipelines dominated (38% of studies), outperforming unimodal approaches by integrating complementary streams-facial imaging (high specificity), EEG/fMRI (superior sensitivity). Transfer learning and fusion techniques were prevalent, but federated learning and explainable AI were underutilized. APPRAISE-AI revealed strong clinical relevance (72.8%) and reporting quality (66.1%), yet substantial gaps in reproducibility (41.0%) and result robustness (45.1%). CONCLUSIONS: AI-driven biomedical informatics holds significant potential to reduce diagnostic delays and costs in NDDs. However, reproducibility, interpretability, and ethical data integration must be improved through standardized, privacy-preserving, and auditable frameworks to enable scalable clinical deployment.

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22. Razavi M, Tabibian M, Lakpour Z, Mehrabi S, Salmanian M, Ghamari R, Mohammad-Zadeh A, Tehrani-Doost M, Ohadi M, Alizadeh F. A zinc finger MYM-type containing 3 (ZMYM3) allele is associated with autism spectrum disorder in Iranian people. J Neurogenet;2026 (Apr 10):1-6.

Previous studies indicate a link between an exceptionally long GA-repeat in the Zinc finger MYM-type containing 3 (ZMYM3) gene and higher-order brain functions, reflected in human-specific cognitive disorders. Here, we studied this GA-repeat in a cohort of unrelated male subjects, consisting of patients affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (n = 100) and controls (n = 200). We also analyzed pooled samples from this study and previous studies of this GA-repeat in three other major psychiatric disorders (n = 721), including schizophrenia (SCZ), bipolar disorder (BD), and late-onset neurocognitive disorder (NCD) and pooled controls (n = 487). An allele at the extreme short end (17-repeat) was detected in the ASD cases, which was not detected in the control samples (mid-p ≤ 0.05). This allele overlapped with the extreme allele detected in SCZ, BD, and late-onset NCD. Furthermore, we found a significantly different genetic architecture at this locus in the ASD patients vs. pooled controls. In conclusion, we report a significant association between the human ZMYM3 17-repeat allele and ASD, which overlaps with SCZ, BD, and late-onset NCD. Our findings reinforce the hypothesis that low-frequency alleles at the extreme allele lengths at this locus co-occur with a number of major psychiatric disorders and undergo natural selection.

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23. Suresh V, Wigdor EM, Hao Y, Leonard R, Asfouri J, Griffiths M, Evans C, Yuan G, Rohani N, Weiss J, Dema C, Mukthar T, Lassen FH, Schafer N, Dong S, Palmer DS, Chang EF, Sanders SJ, Nowakowski TJ. Molecular dynamics of Brodmann Area 22 in development and autism. bioRxiv;2026 (Apr 3)

Challenges in verbal communication are a prominent feature of autism. However, gene regulatory programs in speech-related cortical regions remain poorly characterized. In parallel, it remains unclear whether the heterogeneous genetic factors underlying autism converge on shared neurobiological mechanisms. To address these gaps, we generated paired transcriptomic and epigenomic data from post-mortem human brain tissue across 100 donors. Here, we show that transcriptional differences in the speech-related Brodmann Area 22 in individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions, including autism, are strongest among those with a known genetic diagnosis. A similar but attenuated signature is observed in those without a genetic diagnosis. These transcriptional differences are most pronounced in neurons, with glutamatergic L4/5 intratelencephalic neurons affected across multiple modalities. Finally, multimodal analysis implicates altered RFX3 -dependent networks as a central hub in autism, particularly among L4/5 intratelencephalic neurons in non-verbal individuals. Together, our study identifies regulatory architecture linking chromatin state, transcriptional output, and variation in verbal ability in autism.

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24. Tse ACY, Lee PH, Poon ETC, Ho AWY, Sun FH, Poon K, Ip PPK, Anderson DI. Cycling Interventions Enhance Executive Function in Children with Autism via Heart Rate Variability Mediation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Sports Med Open;2026 (Apr 10);12(1)

BACKGROUND: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit deficits in executive function (EF). Cycling exercise has previously shown to be effective in improving EF. However, the role of different components (e.g., spatial updating and dynamic balance) driving these positive effects remains unclear. This study examined the cognitive effect of cycling interventions with varying navigation and balance demands through a heart rate variability (HRV) mediating model. METHODS: Fifty-one children with ASD (M(age) = 8.78 years; SD = .54) were randomized into four groups: Learning to Bicycle (LTB, n = 13), Bicycle Treadmill (BT, n = 12), Cycling with Training Wheels (TW, n = 14), and Stationary Cycling (SC, n = 12). The interventions lasted for 8 sessions over 2 weeks. EF (Tower of London, TOL; Corsi Block Tapping Task, CBTT; Go/No-go, GNG; Children’s Color Trails Test, CCTT) and HRV (RMSSD) were assessed at baseline (T1), mid-intervention (T2) and post-intervention (T3). RESULTS: All EF domains improved significantly in LTB and TW (ps < .001, d = .56-2.15) and so did HRV in LTB (ps < .001, d = 1.24). HRV partially mediated EF improvements in LTB (β = .35-1.62) and TW (β = .31-1.38), but not in BT and SC. BT showed modest to moderate EF gains (d = .07-.97), while SC showed minimal effects (d = .00-.59). CONCLUSIONS: Cycling interventions with spatial updating and dynamic balance components benefited EF the most in children with ASD, with HRV as a partial mediator. These findings provided insight into optimizing exercise interventions to address EF deficits in children with ASD. Trial registration NCT07295912 (registered retrospectively on 19th Dec 2025 at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT07295912 . We acknowledge that best practice is prospective registration per ICMJE guidelines).

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25. Vaher K, Neal SR, Cábez MB, Jiménez-Sánchez L, Corrigan A, Stoye DQ, Turner HL, Smikle R, Cruickshank H, Rudnicka M, Bastin ME, Thrippleton MJ, Reynolds RM, Boardman JP. Neonatal amygdala microstructure and structural connectivity are associated with autistic traits at 2 years of age. Dev Cogn Neurosci;2026 (Apr 7);79:101721.

Prenatal maternal stress is linked to neurodevelopmental outcomes. Maternal hair cortisol concentration in pregnancy is associated with neonatal amygdala microstructure and structural connectivity, suggesting that amygdala is sensitive to antenatal stress. We investigated whether amygdala microstructure and/or connectivity associate with neurodevelopmental outcomes. 174 participants (105 preterm) underwent brain MRI at term-equivalent age and assessment of neurodevelopment, autistic traits, temperament, and executive function at 2 years corrected age. We calculated amygdala microstructure (fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, neurite density index, orientation dispersion index) and structural connectivity (mean fractional anisotropy) to 6 regions (insula, putamen, thalamus, inferior temporal gyrus, medial orbitofrontal cortex, rostral anterior cingulate cortex). We used linear regression to model amygdala-outcome associations, adjusting for gestational age at birth and at scan, sex, maternal education and postnatal depression score, and network-based statistics (NBS) for whole-brain analyses. Following correction for multiple comparisons, lower amygdala mean diffusivity (left: β = -0.32, p = 0.026, right: β = -0.38, p = 0.012), higher left amygdala neurite density index (β = 0.35, p = 0.026), and increased left amygdala-putamen connectivity (β = 0.31, p = 0.026) associated with higher autistic traits across the whole sample. NBS additionally revealed amygdala-involving networks associated with cognition and surgency among preterms, and gestation-dependent associations with autistic traits. Findings indicate that neonatal amygdala microstructure may be important in the development of autistic traits.

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26. Wang J, Shen J, Pang Y, Liu J, Zhao L, Sun M, Yang Y. Associations of inflammatory biomarkers with brain atrophy and clinical scores in schizophrenia patients with autistic features. BMC Res Notes;2026 (Apr 10)

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27. Xu Y, Zhong Y, Carollo A, Adusumilli N, Esposito G, Dimitriou D. Tracing the Evolution of Sleep-Related Behavioural Outcomes Research in Autistic Children: A Scientometric Review. J Autism Dev Disord;2026 (Apr 10)

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28. Yang N, Wang J, Zhu H, Pan Q, You M, Wang Y, Wu L, Ma W, Wang Y, Zhou H. Autism spectrum disorder in China: Clinical practices, challenges, and future. Med;2026 (Apr 10);7(4):101074.

The prevention and treatment of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a global public health challenge. This review applies a pyramid management-community-maternal and child care-medicine (PCMM) model, incorporating hierarchical and precise services along with parenting education, to examine the evolution of ASD clinical healthcare. The findings are organized into a tiered screening-identification-intervention system tailored to contexts with limited specialist resources. Key achievements include wide screening coverage through the maternal-child health network, earlier diagnostic confirmation in leading regions, and expanded access to intervention via parent-mediated and community-based delivery. However, persistent challenges remain. These include limited diagnostic capacity, regional disparities in services, workforce shortages, insufficient financial support, and stigma that impedes follow-up. We highlight priorities for improving frontline capacity, financing and reimbursement, and services beyond early childhood. The experience in mainland China provides a scalable reference for global ASD practice.

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29. Yuan B, Yuan A, Lu M, Wang X, Song T, Zhang Z, Zhang R, Chen L, Peng B. Maternal immune activation: A critical prenatal risk factor for autism spectrum disorder. Med;2026 (Apr 10);7(4):100967.

Maternal immune activation (MIA) is an important prenatal risk factor for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This commentary summarizes epidemiological and experimental evidence linking MIA to altered fetal neurodevelopment, highlighting placental mechanisms, long-term immune programming, sex-related risk and resilience, and potential strategies to monitor and manage pregnancies with significant maternal inflammation.

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30. Zhang K, Germann J, Matin R, Mithani K, Ellegood J, Suresh H, Wong S, Lerch JP, Nieman BJ, Taylor MJ, Breitbart S, Fasano A, Gorodetsky C, Gouveia FV, Ibrahim GM. Regulation of autism-related self-injurious behavior by electrical stimulation of corticostriatal circuits in mice and humans. Sci Adv;2026 (Apr 10);12(15):eaeb5842.

Dysfunction of corticostriatal circuitry is related to the emergence of self-injurious behavior (SIB) in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Despite mounting interest in circuit-based interventions for severe, refractory SIB, the lack of causal evidence linking modulation of corticostriatal networks to changes in SIB has limited the advancement of effective, targeted therapies. In this study, we demonstrate that electrical stimulation of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) mitigates SIB and induces structural changes along corticostriatal circuits in a mouse model relevant for ASD and children with severe SIB undergoing NAcc-targeted deep brain stimulation. In BTBR T(+) Itpr3(tf)/J mice, NAcc stimulation selectively reduced injurious self-grooming-a behavioral metric of SIB-and led to morphological changes in corticostriatal networks. In children with severe SIB, electric stimulation at a locus of optimal therapeutic response within the NAcc engaged widespread sensorimotor, limbic, and striatal networks and induced longitudinal structural changes in fronto-limbic-striatal brain regions. These findings highlight the role of the fronto-limbic-striatal network in SIB regulation and support corticostriatal neuromodulation as a mechanistic therapy for these extreme behaviors.

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31. Zhao Y, Yuan B, Ma W, Peng B, Zhang Y, Wang Y. Microenvironment dysregulation in autism spectrum disorder: Immune, epigenetic, synaptic, and gut-brain mechanisms. Med;2026 (Apr 10);7(4):101034.

Autism spectrum disorder is a common and heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition. Although its etiologies are diverse, converging evidence suggests that genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures intersect across a limited set of biological pathways. We interpret recent advances through a microenvironment dysregulation perspective that connects immune imbalance, epigenetic regulation, synaptic plasticity, and gut-brain interactions. We distinguish mechanistic evidence from experimental models from predominantly correlative findings in human studies and emphasize that these processes may involve multiple entry points across biological subgroups. We propose that early-life immune challenges can, in some individuals, interact with genetic risk to shape epigenetic programs and neural-immune signaling, with downstream consequences for microglial states and synaptic development, potentially reinforced by gut-brain feedback loops. This integrative view highlights testable hypotheses, convergent mechanistic hubs, and a conceptual basis for subgroup-aware biomarker discovery and mechanism-informed interventions.

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