Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 14, 2026
08:31
Conscious and Non-conscious Representations of Emotional Faces in Asperger's Syndrome
Published on: July 31, 2016
Asperger's in the Holmes family
Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|February 6, 2013
Summary
This study identifies Mycroft Holmes as an early case of Asperger's syndrome, predating its formal description. Genetic links suggest Sherlock Holmes also had Asperger's syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Literary Analysis
Background:
- This research examines the character of Mycroft Holmes from Arthur Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories.
- The study analyzes Mycroft's described traits in relation to the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's syndrome.
Discussion:
- Mycroft Holmes exhibits numerous characteristics consistent with Asperger's syndrome, including exceptional intellect, social interaction challenges, and intense focus on specific interests.
- These traits were documented decades before Hans Asperger formally described the syndrome in 1944.
Key Insights:
- The analysis presents Mycroft Holmes as a retrospective diagnostic case of Asperger's syndrome.
- Given the close familial relationship and shared genetic factors implied between Mycroft and Sherlock Holmes, this diagnosis is extended to Sherlock.
Outlook:
- This retrospective analysis offers a novel perspective on the neurological profiles of iconic literary characters.
- Further research could explore other fictional characters for potential neurodevelopmental conditions, enriching literary and psychological understanding.
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