Motor Signatures in Autism
A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuropsychiatry".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 November 2026 | Viewed by 189
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Approximately 50–88% of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience motor difficulties. These challenges manifest both in individual contexts (e.g., poor postural control and movement incoordination) and in social situations (e.g., reduced imitation and interpersonal synchrony). Motor impairments not only limit children’s participation in daily activities but also influence broader developmental outcomes, including social communication and adaptive functioning.
Despite their high prevalence and developmental significance, motor difficulties have not received sufficient attention in clinical practice. Consequently, a disproportionately small number of children receive motor assessments and targeted interventions. There is a pressing need for research that raises awareness of motor difficulties in ASD, identifies reliable motor signatures to facilitate early detection, and informs evidence-based intervention strategies.
This Special Issue of Brain Sciences, “Motor Signatures in Autism,” aims to advance research examining the behavioral and neural mechanisms underlying motor difficulties in children with ASD, the identification of potential biomarkers for early diagnosis, and the development and evaluation of motor-based interventions. We welcome studies employing multimodal approaches to comprehensively characterize motor impairments (e.g., neuroimaging, behavioral, and kinematic measures) and AI-driven methodologies for identifying different motor characteristics. We also encourage research exploring the connections between motor function and other developmental domains, as well as investigations addressing the heterogeneity of ASD, including cultural and gender differences.
We invite contributions that bridge neuroscience, behavioral research, and clinical application. Submissions may include original research articles, short reports, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and perspective papers.
Sincerely,
Dr. Wan-Chun Su
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- autism
- motor difficulties
- biomarkers
- early identification
- motor intervention
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