How autistic teenagers' brains respond to social and non-social rewards
Neural mechanism of reward processing in autistic adolescents
This project looks at how autistic teenagers' brains respond to being liked by peers and to non-social rewards like money compared with non-autistic peers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Temple Univ of the Commonwealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11134753 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would join a group of autistic and non-autistic youths aged about 10–15 who complete brain scans while experiencing both social rewards (like peer approval) and non-social rewards (like winning money). The team will compare brain activity between the two groups to see whether reward responses are generally blunted in autism or specific to social situations. The study enrolls about 50 autistic and 50 neurotypical participants and uses fMRI to measure neural responses during tasks designed to simulate real peer feedback. Results aim to pinpoint brain systems that could explain differences in motivation and help guide better support strategies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are autistic youth aged roughly 10–15 who can complete MRI scans and follow simple task instructions during study visits.
Not a fit: Adults, children outside the 10–15 age range, or anyone unable to undergo MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia) would not benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help improve motivation-based supports and make behavioral interventions more targeted for autistic adolescents.
How similar studies have performed: Previous brain-imaging studies have suggested reduced reward responses in autism, but directly comparing social versus non-social rewards with peer-like feedback is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- Temple Univ of the Commonwealth — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jarcho, Johanna Molly — Temple Univ of the Commonwealth
- Study coordinator: Jarcho, Johanna Molly
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 below.