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Autism Masking Leaves a Mark on the Brain
Study with EEG reveals the hidden cognitive toll of masking
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Thursday 31st July 2025 |
Some autistic teens mask their traits to "pass" as non-autistic in social settings, but a new study reveals the hidden cognitive toll.
Using EEG, researchers found these teens show faster automatic responses to faces and dampened emotional reactivity, suggesting their brains may adapt to cope with social demands.
The findings could improve identification and support for autistic teens who go unnoticed in schools.
Teens who mask autism show faster facial recognition and muted emotional response.
Surprisingly, 44% of autistic teens in the study passed as non-autistic in classrooms, so the study concluded that there's a need to better identify and support masked autistic teens.
Source: Neuro-Science News (US)
https://neurosciencenews.com/autism-masking-cognition-29493/
Further reading, listening and viewing...
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