Examining moral cognitive skills in adults with autism

Assessing Moral Cognitive Skills in Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Not applicable Interventional Hôpital le Vinatier · NCT05551260

This study is trying to see how adults with autism understand and react to emotions related to right and wrong compared to people without autism.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment60 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 40 Years
SexAll
SponsorHôpital le Vinatier Academic / other
Locations1 site (Lyon, Rhône)
Trial IDNCT05551260 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study investigates how adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) process emotions related to moral transgressions compared to neurotypical individuals. Participants will engage in two tasks: one that explicitly assesses their emotional responses to moral offenses and another that implicitly measures their reaction times to facial expressions of emotion. The study aims to uncover differences in moral judgment patterns and emotional processing between the two groups, focusing on the influence of executive functions and social cognition. By utilizing both explicit and implicit paradigms, the research seeks to provide a deeper understanding of moral cognition in individuals with ASD.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include adults aged 18 to 40 with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder who are Francophone and affiliated with social security.

Not a fit: Patients with intellectual disabilities or significant language, sensory, or motor impairments may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance our understanding of moral cognition in individuals with autism, potentially leading to improved support and interventions.

How similar studies have performed: While there is existing literature on moral cognition in autism, this study's implicit approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

ASD group:

* Diagnosis of ASD according to DSM-5 criteria
* Age between 18 and 40 years old
* Francophone
* Affiliated to social security
* Having given their consent to participate in the study
* Patient under guardianship and curatorship

Neurotypical group:

* Age between 18 and 40 years old
* Francophone
* Affiliated to a social security scheme
* Having given their consent to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

ASD group:

* Diagnosis of intellectual development disorder established according to DSM-5 criteria
* Language, sensory or motor impairments hindering participation in the study

Control group:

* Neurodevelopmental pathology (declarative)
* Neurological pathology
* Language, sensory or motor impairments hindering participation in the study

Where this trial is running

Lyon, Rhône

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Autism Spectrum DisorderMoral cognitionautism spectrum disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 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.