Francesca Happé’s research in cognitive neuroscience focuses specifically on autism and investigation of related typical and atypical developmental processes, particularly as they relate to social cognition.
Francesca Happé
Professor, King's College London
From this contributor
How autistic people use compensatory strategies to cope with daily life
In a large survey, autistic adults from around the world described their experiences of using psychological strategies to fit in.
How autistic people use compensatory strategies to cope with daily life
By
Francesca Happé, Lucy Anne Livingston, The Conversation
26 July 2019 | 4 min read
Male slant to research may skew autism’s reported sex ratio
Clinicians may need to go beyond the 'masks' to find autism in women.
Male slant to research may skew autism’s reported sex ratio
By
Francesca Happé
19 October 2015 | 6 min read
Remembering Lorna Wing (1928-2014)
Lorna Wing, who died in June, was the modest, kind and thoughtful mother of a daughter with severe autism. She was also a towering figure in the history of autism research, and her contributions to our understanding of autism cannot be overestimated.
Remembering Lorna Wing (1928-2014)
By
Francesca Happé, Simon Baron-Cohen
15 July 2014 | 7 min read
Why fold Asperger syndrome into autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5?
In the new diagnostic manual for psychiatric disorders, Asperger syndrome will be folded into autism spectrum disorder. Francesca Happé, a member of the committee that made the recommendation, explains the rationale behind the decision.
Why fold Asperger syndrome into autism spectrum disorder in the DSM-5?
By
Francesca Happé
29 March 2011 | 8 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Single-gene systems-level effects, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 6 April.
Single-gene systems-level effects, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 6 April.
By
Jill Adams
7 April 2026 | 2 min read
‘The Brain, In Theory,’ an excerpt
In his new book, Brette pushes back against theories that describe the brain as a “biological computer.” In this excerpt from Chapter 4, he challenges equating brain evolution with programming, and the universality of neural network models.
‘The Brain, In Theory,’ an excerpt
In his new book, Brette pushes back against theories that describe the brain as a “biological computer.” In this excerpt from Chapter 4, he challenges equating brain evolution with programming, and the universality of neural network models.
By
Romain Brette
7 April 2026 | 5 min read
Computational neuroscientist Keith Hengen explains his work through illustrations
The images help him communicate the “big-picture ideas” behind the mathematical principles of neuronal networks.
Computational neuroscientist Keith Hengen explains his work through illustrations
The images help him communicate the “big-picture ideas” behind the mathematical principles of neuronal networks.
By
Helena Kudiabor
7 April 2026 | 4 min read