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People with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) appear less interested in human interactions than in inanimate objects, and this key clinical observation has been supported by various studies (e.g., Arch Gen Psychiatry 2002; 59:809). However, finding functional MRI correlates for these phenomena has been challenging, largely due to small sample sizes. These researchers performed a meta-analysis of 13 studies involving 259 participants with ASD and 246 typically developing controls (range of mean age, 10–30; range of mean IQ, 104–113; 90% male).
Paradigms to assess reward pathways included presentation of stimuli that were socially pleasurable (e.g., a smiling face) in 7 studies, socially neutral (e.g., money) in 10 studies, and restricted inte…