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Updated: May 20, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Are the autism and positive schizotypy spectra diametrically opposed in empathizing and systemizing?
Suzanna N Russell-Smith1, Donna M Bayliss, Murray T Maybery
1Neurocognitive Development Unit, School of Psychology, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Perth, WA, 6009, Australia. srussell-smith@graduate.uwa.edu.au
Abstract:
Crespi and Badcock's (Behaviour Brain Sci 31: 241-261, 2008) novel theory, which presents autism and positive schizophrenia as diametrical opposites on a cognitive continuum, has received mixed support in the literature to date. The current study aimed to further assess the validity of this theory by investigating predictions in relation to empathizing and systemizing. Specifically, it is predicted by Crespi and Badcock that while mild autistic traits should be associated with a cognitive profile of superior mechanistic cognition (which overlaps with systemizing) but reduced mentalistic cognition (which overlaps with empathizing), positive schizotypy traits should be associated with the opposite profile of superior mentalistic but reduced mechanistic cognition. These predictions were tested in a student sample using a battery of self-report and behavioural measures. The pattern of results obtained provides no support for Crespi and Badcock's theory.
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