Many teens long to expand their social circles—but that can be a particular struggle for those with autism spectrum disorder. A Stanford Medicine-led study suggests that the social centers in their brains may work against them when they hear unfamiliar voices.
Neurotypical teens “are becoming far more aware of their social world, and tuning in to new voices is important for making new social connections,” lead author Daniel Abrams, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, told Stanford Medicine. Researchers recorded the brain activity of kids ages 7 to 17 as they listened to their mothers’ voices and nonfamilial voices. Mom’s voice remained highly rewarding for neurotypical participants, but as they aged, new voices became increasingly engaging. Teens with autism, however, showed no such shift. In fact, they tuned in more to their mothers’ voices, and the weaker their social skills were, the more strongly their brains responded to mom’s voice.
Abrams hopes the research will lead to better interventions, particularly since the teen brain is so plastic. “Adolescence provides a golden opportunity,” he said, “especially for teens with autism who are enthusiastic about building social connections.”
Tracie White is a senior writer at Stanford. Email her at traciew@stanford.edu.
