Autism Research Neurodevelopmental Diversity Lab Northwestern University

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Autism is a developmental condition characterized by difficulties with communication and social functioning, as well as restricted and repetitive behaviors or interests. Fragile X syndrome is the most common known genetic cause of autism. Today, 1 in 31 American children is diagnosed with autism.

The causes of autism are complex, but genes play a key role. At the Neurodevelopmental Diversity Laboratory at Northwestern University, our studies work to clarify the nature of communication challenges associated with autism, and to investigate how some subtle language features might run in families and may be connected to the genes involved in autism.

Our studies involve working with autistic individuals, their family members, and using leading-edge technologies to study language and cognitive processes. A key language difference in autistic people is difficulty with speech intonation and rhythm, especially when they are used to express emotions or intention. The same kind of language features also occur in unaffected relatives of autistic individuals, possibly indicating a genetic predisposition to autism spectrum disorder.

With support from the National Institutes of Health, we are developing ways to measure these vital speech features using state-of-the-art computer modeling of language characteristics in autism. This research has the potential to help with the clinical assessment and treatment of autistic individuals.

We’re currently recruiting autistic individuals and their parents – as well as individuals without autism and their parents – to participate in an important family study. We work with participants who live not only in Illinois but across the country!

It depends on how involved you want to be in the study. Participation can range from simply answering some questionnaires to full participation – doing some tasks involving words, sentences, pictures, and sounds; doing puzzles; solving problems; and completing some brain-activity measurements. These activities are completed in our lab spaces in Evanston, IL.

Again, it depends on your level of participation. Answering questionnaires takes 30-60 minutes; full participation takes up to 10 hours, in either one or two sessions, with frequent breaks.

Our participants live in all parts of the country! The lab is based in Evanston, IL. We administer our tasks in-person and remotely through online platforms such as Zoom.

We can do the study wherever you are most comfortable – our lab, your home via remote or online sessions, or a neutral public place. We’ll schedule your participation at convenient times for you and your family.

Yes! All participants are compensated for their time, as well as for travel and parking.