Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice
07:38

Strategies for Assessing Autistic-Like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: September 20, 2024

2.9K

Repetitive behavior in 12-month-olds later classified with autism spectrum disorder

Jed T Elison1, Jason J Wolff2, J Steven Reznick3

  • 1Institute of Child Development at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.

Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|December 3, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Early repetitive behaviors in infants may help identify autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Infants at high risk for ASD showed more stereotyped movements and object manipulation than low-risk infants, suggesting targeted assessment can aid early ASD detection.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Psychology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

  • Early social communication markers are established predictors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Less is understood regarding the predictive value of early restricted and repetitive behaviors (RRBs) for later ASD diagnosis.
  • Infant RRBs, including stereotyped motor mannerisms and object manipulation, are key areas for investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate patterns of stereotyped motor mannerisms and repetitive object manipulation in 12-month-old infants at high and low risk for ASD.
  • To determine the association between these early behaviors and a confirmed ASD diagnosis at 24 months.
  • To explore the utility of assessing RRBs for augmenting early ASD identification.

Main Methods:

  • Observational coding of repetitive behaviors using the Repetitive and Stereotyped Movement Scales (RSMS).
  • Analysis of digital recordings from the Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales in three infant groups: low-risk (LR), high-familial-risk negative for ASD (HR-negative), and high-familial-risk with ASD (HR-ASD).
  • Assessment of ASD diagnosis at 24 months for all participants.

Main Results:

  • The HR-ASD group exhibited significantly more stereotyped motor mannerisms compared to both HR-negative and LR groups.
  • Both HR-ASD and HR-negative groups showed significantly higher repetitive object manipulation scores than the LR group.
  • A composite RSMS score revealed a disorder-continuum effect, with significant differences between all three groups (LR < HR-negative < HR-ASD).

Conclusions:

  • Early-emerging stereotyped motor mannerisms and repetitive object manipulation are associated with later ASD diagnosis.
  • Targeted assessment of repetitive behaviors in infancy shows promise for enhancing early identification of ASD.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering RRBs alongside social communication markers in infant ASD screening.
Abstract

Keywords:
autismdevelopmentinfant siblingsmotor stereotypiesrepetitive behavior

More Related Videos

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice08:28

Novel Object Exploration as a Potential Assay for Higher Order Repetitive Behaviors in Mice

Published on: August 20, 2016

9.1K
Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice06:50

Marble Burying and Nestlet Shredding as Tests of Repetitive, Compulsive-like Behaviors in Mice

Published on: December 24, 2013

30.5K

Related Concept Videos

Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
2.0K
Modeling in Therapy01:26

Modeling in Therapy

Modeling, a key technique in therapy, uses observational learning to help clients acquire and practice new skills by watching therapists demonstrate desired behaviors. This approach, rooted in Albert Bandura's concept of vicarious learning, plays a significant role in therapeutic interventions for various psychological conditions, including social anxiety, ADHD, and depression.
Participant Modeling
Participant modeling involves therapists demonstrating calm and effective behaviors in...
778
Operant Conditioning Intervention01:24

Operant Conditioning Intervention

Operant conditioning serves as a foundational principle in therapeutic interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive behaviors. Central to this approach is the notion that behaviors, both adaptive and maladaptive, are learned through reinforcement. By analyzing the environmental factors that reinforce problematic behaviors, clinicians can design interventions to weaken these reinforcements and replace maladaptive behaviors with healthier alternatives.
In operant conditioning, behaviors that are...
694
Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development01:14

Piaget's Stage 1 of Cognitive Development

The sensorimotor stage, the initial phase of Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, spans the first two years of a child's life. During this period, infants actively engage with their surroundings, building cognitive awareness through direct interaction with the world. This interaction is primarily based on sensory perception and motor actions, allowing infants to gradually understand basic physical properties and predict how objects interact within their environment.
Exploration...
2.6K
Oppositional Defiant Disorder01:30

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

A persistent pattern of angry or irritable mood, defiant behavior, or vindictiveness characterizes Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). Symptoms must occur over at least six months, involve interactions with individuals beyond siblings, and meet specific diagnostic criteria to be clinically significant. The disorder affects emotional regulation, social interactions, and behavior, often manifesting early in life and influencing long-term development and functioning.
Diagnostic Criteria and...
1.5K
Conduct Disorder01:28

Conduct Disorder

Conduct disorder is a complex mental health diagnosis characterized by a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior that violates societal norms, the rights of others, or age-appropriate rules. The diagnostic criteria for conduct disorder require the presence of at least three problematic behaviors within the past 12 months, with at least one occurring in the past six months. These behaviors are grouped into four categories: aggression toward people and animals; destruction of property;...
984