How people learn from others in social situations and how that differs in autism and social anxiety

Neuro-computational mechanisms of social learning and variation along psychiatric symptom dimensions and in autism

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · UNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK · NIH-11295417

This work looks at how people learn from others in social situations and how those learning patterns differ for people with autism or social anxiety.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIV OF MARYLAND, COLLEGE PARK (nih funded)
Locations1 site (COLLEGE PARK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11295417 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If you take part, you would complete computer tasks that measure different kinds of social learning and decision making. The researchers will use computational models to explain how people learn from others and how those processes map onto brain signals and behavior. They will collect data from people across the general population, from individuals with autism, and from people with varying levels of social anxiety. The team aims to build a task battery and an integrated framework that links specific symptoms to particular social-learning mechanisms.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would include adults with autism spectrum disorder, people who experience social anxiety, and individuals from the general population across a range of social symptoms.

Not a fit: People without social difficulties or those seeking an immediate clinical treatment may not receive direct benefit from participating in this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help tailor assessments and therapies by pinpointing why people with autism or social anxiety struggle with social learning.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research using computational models and social learning tasks has revealed differences in autism and anxiety, but this combined task battery and neuro-computational approach is relatively new.

Where this research is happening

COLLEGE PARK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Autistic Disorder

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.