Imitation is important for learning skills and forging relationships, but some autistic children struggle with this social behavior. A study published in the journal Autism Research—the largest study of imitation ever conducted—has generated new insights into the reasons why imitation is difficult for these children.

The researchers assessed 708 autistic and non-autistic children aged 7–12 years using a series of tests that measured social, cognitive, and motor processes. They found that there are many reasons that autistic children might struggle to imitate, with motor coordination ranking as the most important factor. Importantly, they found that motor coordination was similarly important to imitation for both neurotypical children and autistic children.

The study provides much-needed certainty on the relative role of each factor studied (e.g., attention, motor coordination) and helps researchers better understand how different abilities work together to influence imitation skills in autistic and non-autistic children. The next steps in this area are to test whether differences in imitation relate to patient-centered outcomes, such as quality of life and community use, according to study lead author Sean McWeeny, PhD, Research Scientist, Ewen Laboratory, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. “Our long-term goal is to identify treatments that can impact the wide range of features of autism, such as motor and sensory differences, in addition to core social and repetitive behaviors. Imitation is an attractive intervention target because it is social, communicative, and movement-based by nature,” he said.

McWeeny collaborated with Joshua Ewen, MD, Division Head of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, and Professor of Pediatrics (Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics) at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, and experts at Johns Hopkins University and Kennedy Krieger Institute. 

Pediatric research at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.