Our lab was represented at this year’s WTAS (Conference of the Scientific Society for Autism Research Germany) with several oral and poster presentations. We would like to thank all members who contributed to the success of the conference with their exciting contributions. We would especially like to congratulate Lena Matyjek and Mareike Bayer, who were honoured with the WTAS Poster Awards for their outstanding scientific work.

Lena presented her latest findings on autistic particularities in looking preferences and pupillary responses to social motion (moving human faces). Her results suggest that lowered preferences for social motion in autism persist across lifespan and may serve as a potential marker for the condition, even in adulthood (preprint available here).

Mareike presented a study investigating the interests of autistic individuals (often referred to as special interests). While previous studies have focused on the negative aspects and consequences of these interests, Mareike’s work highlights their importance as a strategy for emotion regulation and a source of knowledge. The results emphasise the potential of autistic people’s interests to improve mental health and wellbeing and the need to reduce associated stigma.