Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42174656›Full record

ArticleMolecular autism2026

From cognitive abstraction to adaptive behavior: neural bases of concept learning in autistic adolescents.

Yijun Chen, Brylee Hawkins, Hannah Puckett, Kat Sharp, Andrea Lopez, Dagmar Zeithamova, Hua Xie, Alyssa Verbalis, Ashley S VanMeter, William D Gaillard and 2 more

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In one paragraph

Article in Molecular autism, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Yijun ChenDepartment of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA. yc1236@georgetown.edu.
Brylee HawkinsDepartment of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
Hannah PuckettDepartment of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
Kat SharpChildren's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Andrea LopezChildren's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Dagmar ZeithamovaDepartment of Psychology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
Hua XieChildren's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Alyssa VerbalisChildren's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Ashley S VanMeterCenter for Functional and Molecular Imaging, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
William D GaillardChildren's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Lauren KenworthyChildren's Research Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
Chandan J VaidyaDepartment of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.

Funding

Neurobehavioral Evaluation CoreP50HD105328 · NICHD · CHILDREN'S RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI WILLIAM Davis GAILLARD · 2021 to 2026
$9.3M
NICHD NIH HHS P50 HD105328
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLearned knowledge does not consistently generalize to new contexts in autistic individuals, limiting potential for adapting to real-world demands. This challenge is hypothesized to stem from difficulties with forming abstract representations, potentially arising from perceptual processing that favors local details over the gestalt. We tested the prediction that generalization would be primarily based on exemplar-specific representations in autistic youth using computational modelling coupled with neuroimaging.

methodsSixty-four autistic adolescents without intellectual disability (69% males; ages 14-18 years) completed a category generalization task during functional magnetic resonance imaging at two time points. Computational models estimated abstract (prototype-based) and specific (exemplar-based) representations and underlying neural correlates. We further examined associations with adaptive functioning and moderation by autistic traits.

resultsContrary to predictions, we observed a consistent prototype-dominant majority, a subgroup who generalized without consistent representational reliance, and a small minority who failed to acquire category structure. Neural prototype correlates were observed in bilateral ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC), inferior parietal lobule (IPL), right frontal pole, and right lateral occipital cortex, while neural exemplar correlates were observed in bilateral cuneus. Better generalization predicted better real-world adaptive functioning. Moreover, greater prototype-related activation in left IPL predicted better adaptive functioning in participants with higher autistic traits. LIMITATIONS: Generalizability is limited to autistic adolescents without intellectual disability as the design did not include typically developing youth.

conclusionsThese findings challenge the prevailing view that concept learning in autism relies primarily on hyper-specific perceptual processing, identify meaningful variability in representational strategies, and reveal neural pathways through which abstract representation may support real-world adaptive behavior. These findings set the foundation for exploring abstract representation as an intervention target in autism.

Indexed as

Adaptation, PsychologicalAutistic DisorderBrainCognitionConcept FormationLearningAdolescentBrain MappingFemaleGeneralization, PsychologicalHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleAdaptive functioningAutismComputational modellingExemplarModel-based fMRIPrototype

Identifiers

PMID42174656
PMCPMC13244830

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.