Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 10, 2026

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy
04:51

Pupillary Response as Assessment of Effective Seizure Induction by Electroconvulsive Therapy

Published on: April 11, 2019

10.5K

Enhanced pupillary light reflex in infancy is associated with autism diagnosis in toddlerhood

Pär Nyström1, Teodora Gliga2, Elisabeth Nilsson Jobs1

  • 1Uppsala Child & Babylab, Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, SE-75142, Uppsala, Sweden.

Nature Communications
|May 9, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Infants later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show a larger pupillary light reflex. This sensory difference in infancy may aid early ASD risk assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Sensory processing
  • Infant development

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects ~1% of the population.
  • Previous research indicated weaker pupillary light reflexes in children and adults with ASD.
  • Infant siblings of children with ASD previously showed stronger pupillary light reflexes than low-risk infants.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate pupillary light reflex differences in 9-10-month-old high-risk infant siblings.
  • To determine if pupillary light reflex magnitude in infancy predicts later ASD diagnosis and symptom severity.

Main Methods:

  • Pupillometry was used to measure pupillary light reflexes in 9-10-month-old infants.
  • Infants were categorized as high-risk (siblings of children with ASD) or low-risk controls.
  • High-risk infants were followed to 36 months for ASD diagnosis.

Main Results:

  • High-risk infants who later received an ASD diagnosis showed a larger relative pupillary light reflex constriction compared to non-diagnosed high-risk infants and low-risk controls.
  • The magnitude of the pupillary light reflex in infancy correlated with symptom severity at follow-up.

Conclusions:

  • Sensory atypicalities, specifically in pupillary light reflexes, play a role in the etiology of ASD.
  • Pupillometry shows potential as a tool for early ASD risk assessment in infants.
  • Further refinement of pupillometry could enhance early identification and intervention for ASD.

More Related Videos

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism09:03

Eye Tracking Young Children with Autism

Published on: March 27, 2012

46.6K
Diagnosis of Neoplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus using Vital-dye Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging06:55

Diagnosis of Neoplasia in Barrett’s Esophagus using Vital-dye Enhanced Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: May 11, 2014

12.4K

Related Concept Videos

Socioemotional Development during Infancy01:30

Socioemotional Development during Infancy

Socio-emotional development in infancy is primarily shaped by early emotional responses and social connections, with temperament playing a central role. Temperament refers to the consistent patterns in an individual's emotional and behavioral responses, observable even in infancy. By examining temperament, researchers can better understand an infant's unique ways of interacting with the world, influencing subsequent personality and socio-emotional growth.
Primary Temperament Types
520
Reflex Activity01:08

Reflex Activity

A reflex activity is an automatic, involuntary response to specific stimuli. It is a part of our survival mechanism, designed to protect us from potential harm. For example, when a bright light suddenly shines into our eyes, we instinctively close them or look away. This is a simple reflex activity orchestrated by the nervous system without conscious thought or effort.
A reflex exam is a diagnostic procedure performed by a healthcare professional to evaluate the functionality of a patient's...
3.4K
The Micturition Reflex01:26

The Micturition Reflex

Urination, or micturition involves the coordination of the bladder's detrusor muscle and two sphincters to ensure controlled bladder emptying.
The process begins with bladder filling, where the bladder wall stretches as urine accumulates. This stretching activates the urine storage reflex, mediated by the sacral spinal segments and the pontine storage center. Efferent sympathetic impulses stimulate the detrusor muscle to relax and the internal urethral sphincter to contract, facilitating...
2.9K
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.
1.2K
Somatic Spinal Reflexes01:22

Somatic Spinal Reflexes

Somatic spinal reflexes are rapid, involuntary muscular responses to external stimuli that involve the somatic musculature and the spinal cord.
One of the most well-known somatic spinal reflexes is the stretch reflex, which is activated by the sudden stretching of a muscle. This reflex involves the activation of specialized sensory receptors called muscle spindles, which are located in the muscle tissue and detect changes in the length and speed of muscle contractions. When a muscle is suddenly...
5.4K
Nursing Diagnosis01:22

Nursing Diagnosis

Following assessment, a nursing diagnosis is the next step in the nursing process. It begins after the nurse has collected and recorded the patient data. The purpose of diagnosing is to identify how the client responds to actual or potential health processes, identify factors that bestow or that cause health problems, the etiologies, and identify resources or strengths the individual, group, or community can draw on to prevent or resolve problems.
The nursing diagnosis focuses on evidence-based...
4.2K