Repetitive behaviors are one of autism’s core features and can be sensory or motor based, such as hand-flapping, or more cognitive in nature, such as intensely focused interests. Autistic people may engage in repetitive behaviors as a way to relieve anxiety or for fun — and for this reason, such behaviors deserve careful management.
Repetitive behaviors and autism
New thinking about repetitive behaviors suggests they provide stress relief and fun for autistic people; as such, these behaviors deserve careful management.
By
Emma Bryce
4 September 2020 | 3 min watch
Animation by Lottie Kingslake; script by Emma Bryce
tags:
Recommended reading
Personalized medicine; astroglia organoids; fast track for fragile X drug
By
Jill Adams
21 January 2025 | 2 min read
X marks the spot in search for autism variants
By
Holly Barker
16 January 2025 | 6 min read
White-matter changes; lipids and neuronal migration; dementia
By
Jill Adams
14 January 2025 | 2 min read
Explore more from The Transmitter
Digitization of ‘breathtaking’ neuroanatomy slide collection offers untapped research gold mine
By
Shaena Montanari
22 January 2025 | 3 min read
Neuroscientists need to do better at explaining basic mental health research
By
Omar Abubaker, Karla Kaun, Eric J. Nestler
21 January 2025 | 7 min read
Dose, scan, repeat: Tracking the neurological effects of oral contraceptives
By
Carina Heller
20 January 2025 | 7 min read
Cite this article: