Brain Activity and Flexible Thinking in Autistic Men and Women

Trial details

Who runs it

University Hospital, Grenoble

Trial code

NCT06391684

Record updated

2 October 2026

Original description

The goal of this study is to compare the neural correlates of predictive brain mechanisms during high-level social and non-social flexibility tasks, between autistic and non-autistic males and females. The aim is to better understand if autistic individuals differ from non-autistic individuals in their cognitive flexibility according to the social and predictable nature of the stimuli, at a behavioral and neurofunctional level using the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). As autistic females usually present a more subtle profile than autistic males, the investigators will also explore if autistic males and females present neurofunctional differences.Read full original descriptionShow less

Neurofunctional Specificities in Predictive Processing During High-Level Cognitive Flexibility Tasks in Autistic Males and Females

The goal of this study is to compare the neural correlates of predictive brain mechanisms during high-level social and non-social flexibility tasks, between autistic and non-autistic males and females. The aim is to better understand if autistic individuals differ from non-autistic individuals in their cognitive flexibility according to the social and predictable nature of the stimuli, at a behavioral and neurofunctional level using the functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI). As autistic females usually present a more subtle profile than autistic males, the investigators will also explore if autistic males and females present neurofunctional differences.

Inclusion: For non autistic individuals; Affiliation with social security scheme; Registration in the national database of individuals willing to participate in research involving human subjects; Absence of contraindications for MRI; Signed informed consent before any study-related procedure; Visual acuity allowing normal perception of stimuli or corrected vision; Autism Quotient (AQ) (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) < 32; For autistic individuals:; Affiliation with social security scheme; Absence of contraindications for MRI; Signed informed consent before any study-related procedure; Visual acuity allowing normal perception of stimuli or corrected vision; Diagnosis of autism established by a competent professional based on DSM/ICD criteria.

Exclusion: Any subject with a vascular stent implanted less than 6 weeks before the examination; Any acquisition procedure not meeting the conditions required for "conditional" use in subjects with implanted biomedical material classified as "conditional" in the list: http://www.mrisafety.com/TheList_search.asp; Any subject with biomedical material such as a cardiac, neuronal, or sensory stimulator (cochlear implant due to the risk of demagnetization, heating, electrode, and artifacts) or a ventricular shunt valve without medical and paramedical supervision trained in MRI performance in these subjects; Claustrophobia - Psychiatric or neurological conditions other than those specified; Existence of a severe general health condition incompatible with the study: cardiac, respiratory, hematological, renal, hepatic, or cancerous; Any subject with implanted biomedical material deemed "unsafe" or "not safe" in the list: http://www.mrisafety.com/TheList_search.asp; Intraocular or intracranial ferromagnetic foreign body near nerve structures (risk of displacement and complications such as ocular or cerebral lesions); Alcohol ingestion before the examination; Persons covered by articles L1121-5 to L1121-8 of the Public Health Code (pregnant or breastfeeding women, minors or adults under legal protection, individuals under administrative or judicial surveillance); Visual impairments; Intellectual disability; Inability to understand research instructions or provide informed consent.

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06391684