Socio-emotional processing and interoception in autism and anorexia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Socio-emotional processing, interoception and social communciation in autistic and non-autistic individuals with anorexia nervosa: Exploring the role of eye gaze behaviour
IRAS ID
317643
Contact name
Karri Gillespie-Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 8 months, 2 days
Research summary
It is now well established that there is an overlap between autism and anorexia nervosa (AN). Several possible factors that may be behind this overlap have been identified, including how an individual processes social and emotional information (socio-emotional processing), and how the person communicates in social situations (social communication). It is also thought that other factors, such as how the person processes internal sensations such as being hungry or full (known as interoception), may affect the processing and communication of emotional and social information.
This study will therefore look to investigate any differences in socio-emotional processing and their possible relationship with interoception and social communication. Autistic and non-autistic young adults (16-25 years old) with anorexia will be eligible for the study, as well as non-autistic individuals who have recovered from AN and neurotypical participants of the same age and verbal ability. The study will recruit from NHS sites and from the broader community. Information about the study will be given on adverts and in a recruitment video filmed by the lead researcher, who will also be available to visit NHS sites to discuss the study will potential participants.
Eligible participants will be asked to provide some information about themselves, before being invited to the University of Edinburgh campus to complete several tasks. Participants will be asked if they have any preferences that the research team can accommodate to make participation easier; for example, removing ticking clocks or changing the lighting in a room, or talking about the easiest way to get to and from the lab. Participants will be asked to complete two tasks by themselves and a third communication task with a member of the research team. Once they have finished the tasks, they will be provided with a £20 amazon voucher as a thank you for participating.
REC name
South East Scotland REC 02
REC reference
22/SS/0092
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion