Course of Face-to-face Interactions in Adults With Autism

Launched by UMC UTRECHT · Apr 10, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at how adults with autism and those without (called neurotypical adults) make eye contact during different types of conversations. Researchers want to understand how the type of conversation affects eye contact, like how often it happens and for how long. They are also interested in how eye contact affects stress levels—whether it makes people feel more relaxed, more stressed, or doesn’t change their stress at all. Additionally, the study will compare how people with autism respond to eye contact from others versus how they make eye contact themselves.

To participate in this trial, you need to be an adult aged 18 to 65 and be either neurotypical or diagnosed with autism using a recognized system. You should be able to understand instructions and be motivated to join the research. However, if you struggle with the Dutch language, have a history of using drugs or alcohol during the study, or if you are experiencing severe mental health issues, you may not be able to participate. If you decide to join, you can expect to take part in discussions and activities that will help researchers learn more about eye contact and its effects on stress for adults with autism and those without.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• • Inclusion criteria
• • Neurotypical adults and adults with an ASD, determined according to an internationally recognized classification system.
• • Able to understand the instructions.
• • Motivation to participate in research.
• • Exclusion criteria
• • No good command of the Dutch language.
• • Use of alcohol and/or recreational drugs during the research.
• • Mentally too unstable to participate in the research.
• • Familiarity with treatment in the VGZ.