1. Cacciato-Salcedo S, Jaokar S, Ingham NJ, Malmierca MS, Petrinovic MM. Auditory Sensitivity in Autism: A Systematic Review of Mismatch Negativity and Mismatch Field Responses. Autism Res;2026 (May 17):e70275.

Auditory mismatch responses-mismatch negativity (MMN) and mismatch fields (MMF)-are well established electrophysiological markers of automatic auditory discrimination supported by short-term sensory memory. These responses, typically elicited using passive oddball paradigms, are increasingly used to investigate sensory and language processing in autism. This systematic review synthesizes findings from 55 studies comparing MMN and MMF responses in autistic and typically developing (TD) individuals across childhood, adolescence, and adulthood. Using the Synthesis Without Meta-analysis (SWiM) framework, we identified consistent evidence for smaller MMN amplitudes and reduced MMF power in autistic children and adolescents relative to TD peers, particularly in response to frequency, duration, and speech-based deviants. Studies also frequently reported longer mismatch latencies in autistic participants and associated these delays with language difficulties and heightened auditory sensitivity. Although some studies reported age-related convergence in MMN and MMF measures between autistic and TD groups in later childhood or adolescence, greater right-hemisphere lateralization in autistic individuals emerged as a consistent finding across both speech and non-speech paradigms, suggesting differences in hemispheric weighting for auditory processing of linguistic and non-linguistic cues. To explain interindividual and developmental variability in mismatch responses, we propose a precision-weighted predictive coding account, in which divergent assignment of confidence to sensory prediction errors may contribute to autism-related differences. While study quality was generally fair, methodological heterogeneity, underrepresentation of females, and limited cross-cultural sampling constrain generalizability. Future research should prioritize longitudinal, sex-stratified, and culturally diverse designs, using standardized protocols and collaborative data practices. MMN and MMF responses hold promise as non-invasive translational biomarkers of early-stage sensory prediction and neurodevelopmental variation in autism. Autistic people often experience sounds differently from the typically developing (TD) population. We reviewed 55 studies of two brain responses—mismatch negativity (MMN) and mismatch fields (MMF)—that reflect how the brain automatically detects changes in sound patterns without requiring active attention. Across children and adolescents, autistic groups commonly showed smaller and delayed MMN and MMF than TD groups to changes in tone, duration, and speech sounds, along with greater right‐hemisphere involvement. These patterns were sometimes linked to language development and heightened sound sensitivity. Findings in autistic adults were more mixed, suggesting that some differences from TD peers may lessen with age but can persist depending on the type of sound and task demands. Overall, MMN and MMF provide valuable non‐invasive indices of early auditory prediction and discrimination processes in autism. However, studies used varied methods, included fewer girls and women, and were conducted in a limited range of regions. We recommend larger, more diverse, and longitudinal studies using consistent protocols to clarify how these neural responses relate to everyday listening and language. eng

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2. Mezquida G, Perez-Ramos A, Guasch-Capella N, Forte MF, Parellada M, Amoretti S, Serra-Navarro M, Galvañ J, Cuesta MJ, Mané A, la Serna E, Mitjans M, Bioque M, García-Rizo C, Segura AG, Group AP. The genetic architecture of autistic traits and negative symptoms in non-affective first-episode psychosis: an exploratory longitudinal study. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol;2026 (May 17);111:112859.

Autistic traits and negative symptoms (NS) frequently co-occur in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), even in early stages such as first-episode psychosis (FEP), complicating both diagnosis and prognosis, as these dimensions strongly influence functional outcomes and may share etiological mechanisms. This study aims to explore the genetic architecture underlying autistic and NS dimensions, to support early stratification and personalised interventions. 203 non-affective FEP were analysed. Symptom severity was assessed using Positive and Negative Symptom Syndrome (PANSS) derived measures: PANSS-Autism Severity Score (PAUSS) for autistic traits and Marder-factors for NS (NSFS), including subdomains of social reciprocity, communication, restricted-repetitive behaviours (PAUSSsoc, PAUSScom, PAUSSrrb), and expressive deficits (EXP) and motivational/pleasure deficits (MAP). Polygenic scores (PGS) for autism spectrum disorder (PGS(ASD)), schizophrenia (PGS(SZ)), educational attainment (PGS(EA)), and cognitive performance (PGS(CP)), including pathway-specific PGS (pPGS) targeting neurodevelopmental and immune-related processes, were used to examine associations with baseline and one-year autistic and NS dimensions. At baseline, PGS(ASD) showed nominal associations (p < 0.05) with PAUSS-total and NSFS-total. At the subdomain level, PGS(CP) was significantly associated with PAUSScom (p = 0.019), while PGS(ASD) showed significant associations with PAUSSsoc (p = 0.034), PAUSSrrb (p = 0.009, p.adj=0.038) and EXP (p = 0.044). At one-year follow-up, PGS(ASD) remained associated with PAUSSrrb (p = 0.009; p.adj=0.048), but not EXP, and PGS(EA) with PAUSScom (p = 0.023). pPGS analyses showed nominal associations (p < 0.05) between neurodevelopmental and immune pathways and PAUSSrrb, PAUSScom, and EXP. Autistic traits and NS in FEP exhibit marked multidimensionality, with distinct subdomains showing differential genetic underpinnings. Neurodevelopmental and immune-mediated pathways appear particularly relevant to restricted-repetitive traits and expressive deficits, supporting subdomain-level phenotyping as a valuable tool for early patient stratification and for refining the clinical characterisation of SSD.

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3. Shamhan ANM, Constantinou M, Hajaig H, Qaraqe M, Al-Thani D. ShopAutiPlan: Validating a Serious Game for Assessing Executive Planning in Autism. Autism Res;2026 (May 17):e70281.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) frequently experience difficulties in executive functions, particularly planning and goal-directed behavior, yet traditional assessments such as the Tower of London and Zoo Map offer limited ecological validity and do not capture how planning challenges manifest in everyday contexts. This study introduces and validates ShopAutiPlan, a supermarket-based serious game designed to assess planning skills through naturalistic, multistep tasks. A total of 57 children aged 7-10 years (27 ASD and 30 neurotypical), matched on age and IQ, completed both the game and conventional EF assessments, including the BRIEF-2 and two BADS-C subtests (Zoo Map and Key Search). ShopAutiPlan automatically recorded behavioral indicators related to task completion and efficiency. Group comparisons revealed that neurotypical children outperformed those with ASD across all standardized measures, and autistic participants exhibited reduced in-game efficiency-demonstrated by longer completion times, greater distances traveled, and more pauses-despite achieving similar item completion. Significant correlations between game-derived metrics and traditional planning tests provided strong evidence of convergent validity. Overall, findings demonstrate that ShopAutiPlan is a valid, ecologically grounded, and engaging tool for assessing executive planning in children with ASD, complementing and extending conventional neuropsychological approaches. This study tested ShopAutiPlan, a supermarket game designed to assess planning skills in children with autism. The game clearly distinguished autistic children from their peers through differences in timing, navigation, and task efficiency, demonstrating strong discriminant validity. These patterns closely matched results from standard clinical tests, showing strong convergent validity. These findings suggest that ShopAutiPlan is an engaging, accessible, and promising tool for assessing everyday planning skills in children with autism. eng

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