The DOI matches its Crossref record; 159 of the 161 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The ‘Fractionable Autism Triad’: A Review of Evidence from Behavioural, Genetic, Cognitive and Neural Research
Abstract
Autism is diagnosed on the basis of a triad of impairments in social interaction, communication, and flexible imaginative functions (with restricted and repetitive behaviors and interests; RRBIs). There has been a strong presumption that these different features of the syndrome are strongly intertwined and proceed from a common cause at the genetic, cognitive and neural levels. In this review we examine evidence for an alternative approach, considering the triad as largely 'fractionable'. We present evidence from our own twin studies, and review relevant literature on autism and autistic-like traits in other groups. We suggest that largely independent genes may operate on social skills/impairments, communication abilities, and RRBIs, requiring a change in molecular-genetic research approaches. At the cognitive level, we suggest that satisfactory accounts exist for each of the triad domains, but no single unitary account can explain both social and nonsocial features of autism. We discuss the implications of the fractionable-triad approach for both diagnosis and future research directions.
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“They found that parent-reported social and nonsocial autism traits correlated only modestly in children in the general population, and even in subgroups with high traits and/or autism spectrum diagnoses”
From Annual Research Review: Looking back to look forward – changes in the concept of autism and implications for future research (2020) · cites this paper as Happé & Ronald, 2008
In the citing paper
“Using twin modelling, Ronald and colleagues were also able to show distinct genetic influences on different autism symptom domains, in the general population and amongst high trait/diagnosed autism samples (reviewed in Happé & Ronald, 2008).”
From Annual Research Review: Looking back to look forward – changes in the concept of autism and implications for future research (2020) · cites this paper as Happé & Ronald, 2008
In the citing paper
“At the cognitive level, too, it has been suggested that autism may be characterised by a compound of deficits/differences (e.g., impaired ToM, executive dysfunction, detail-focused processing bias), and that attempts to find a unitary psychological explanation for social and nonsocial behavioural features have largely failed (Happé & Ronald, 2008; Brunsdon et al, 2015).”
From Annual Research Review: Looking back to look forward – changes in the concept of autism and implications for future research (2020) · cites this paper as Happé & Ronald, 2008
In the citing paper
“This is perhaps not surprising given the small sample size and the variability in participants' baseline scores, as might be expected from a heterogeneous autistic population (Happé & Ronald, 2008).”
From The design and implementation of a CBT-based intervention for sensory processing difficulties in adolescents on the autism spectrum (2016) · cites this paper as Happé & Ronald, 2008
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Metadata
- Authors
- Happé, F., & Ronald, A.
- Affiliations
- Birkbeck, University of London (GB)
- ORCID
- Ronald, Angelica
- Venue
- Neuropsychology Review
- Published
- 2008-10-28
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 287-304
- ISSN
- 1040-7308 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-6660
- OpenAlex
- W2078162851
- Cited by
- 498
- References
- 161
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 23 · 2021: 31 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 31 · 2017: 26 · 2016: 30 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 46 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 2.20
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Neuropsychology Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- BIROn (Birkbeck, University of London) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Autism Speaks (AS1650)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, social interaction deficits, communication disorders, restricted and repetitive behaviors, autistic traits, twin studies, genetic architecture, autism diagnosis
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Behavior, Communication, Compulsive Behavior, Family Health, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Nervous System, Biomedical Research
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