Autism and Anxiety in Teens: Using Heart Signals to Understand Feelings
Official title: Assessing Anxiety in Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: The Role of Autonomic Activity as a Biomarker
Funded at James Madison University · NIH-11369542 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A physician-researcher at a university is studying whether autonomic signals like heart rate can serve as a simple clue to anxiety in autistic teens.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James Madison University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Harrisonburg, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $170,244 |
| NIH project number | 7K08MH133879-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369542 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents with autism and anxiety symptoms, as well as autistic and nonautistic peers, across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.
✕Less likely to help
Teens without autism or without anxiety symptoms may not directly benefit from the biomarker findings.
What this research studies
This program focuses on autistic and nonautistic adolescents to see if how their bodies respond in real life relates to anxiety levels. It uses noninvasive heart-rate monitors and real-time prompts to capture anxiety and environmental context as it happens. The goal is to find an objective biomarker that works across diverse groups and settings, so clinicians can better recognize and support anxious youth with autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could lead to easier, real-time ways to identify anxiety in autistic teens and tailor interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier studies show autonomic measures can relate to anxiety, but this project emphasizes diverse populations and real-world data.
Where this research is happening
-
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yarger, Heather — James Madison University
- Study coordinator: Yarger, Heather
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Anxiety Management for Young Children with Autism
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-
Understanding how anxiety and ADHD affect autism spectrum disorder
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-
Understanding anxiety in adolescents with autism through body responses
This study is looking at how the body's natural responses can help us understand anxiety in teenagers with autism, and it aims to find patterns that show how anxiety levels change in different situations and among different backgrounds.
-
Understanding and treating anxiety in children with autism
This study is looking at how anxiety affects kids with autism and is testing a medication called buspirone to see if it can help reduce their anxiety symptoms, all while trying to understand how their bodies respond to treatment.
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Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
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Paternal exposures and sperm epigenetics linked to autism in children
This project looks at how a father's environment and health before conception might influence autism risk in his children.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.