Understanding how the brain perceives social interactions in autism spectrum disorder
The neural basis of social interaction perception and its disruption in autism spectrum disorder
This study is looking at how people with autism see and understand social interactions, focusing on a part of the brain that helps with this, and it compares their brain responses to those of people without autism to learn more about the challenges they face in social situations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10589804 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) perceive social interactions, which are crucial for communication and social engagement. The study focuses on a specific brain region known as the posterior superior temporal sulcus, which is believed to play a key role in recognizing social interactions. By comparing the brain responses of high-functioning individuals with ASD to those of neurotypical individuals, the research aims to uncover the neural mechanisms that may contribute to the social perception deficits observed in ASD. The approach includes using both controlled stimuli and naturalistic movie viewing to assess brain activity during social interaction tasks.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are high-functioning individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Not a fit: Patients with severe forms of autism or those who do not have a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for social interaction difficulties in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has successfully identified brain regions involved in social perception in neurotypical individuals, but this specific investigation in autism is novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Isik, Leyla — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Isik, Leyla
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.