Mathematical Talent is Linked to Autism

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Genetics

Background:

• Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is a neurodevelopmental disorder.
• Systemizing, the drive to understand and build systems, is often associated with ASC.
• Previous research suggests a potential link between systemizing and ASC, but empirical data is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of ASC in mathematics undergraduates, a group selected for strong systemizing abilities.
• To explore the association between systemizing and ASC.
• To examine the potential genetic underpinnings of this association by assessing family history of ASC.

Main Methods:

• Surveyed 378 mathematics undergraduates and 414 control students at Cambridge University.
• Assessed diagnosed autism spectrum condition (ASC) and number of relatives with ASC.
• Controlled for sex and general population sampling.

Main Results:

• A ninefold higher prevalence of diagnosed ASC (1.85%) was found in mathematics students compared to controls (0.24%).
• This represents a three- to sevenfold increase in ASC among mathematicians after controlling for confounding factors.
• A significantly higher rate of ASC in first-degree relatives was observed in the mathematics group (0.5%) versus the control group (0.1%).

Conclusions:

• The study confirms a significant link between strong systemizing abilities and a higher prevalence of autism spectrum conditions.
• Findings suggest a potential genetic component contributing to the association between systemizing and ASC.
• The results support the Empathizing-Systemizing theory and highlight the importance of considering cognitive styles in understanding neurodevelopmental conditions.