Neurodiversity Research

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity is the natural variations in human brains, cognitive functioning, and behaviors. Our research aims to understand and support diverse neurological experiences. The Caldwell-Harris Lab explores differences in cognitive and personality traits between neurodivergent individuals–such as people with autism spectrum disorder or ADHD–and neurotypical persons.

Our research:

Below are summaries of some of the lab’s past projects related to Neurodiversity. For a list of selected studies relating to Neurodiversity, visit the Publications page.  Our ongoing Neurodiversity research is available under the Current Research Projects tab.

Autism and Religion

As it has been previously established, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) emphasize systematic, rational thinking and are deficient in empathy and in orientation towards social rewards. Additionally, it is presumed that religious belief is predicated on the human tendency to presume the existence of an intelligent agent, theorized as agency detection (Guthrie 1993). While many people turn to religion to provide them with the answers science cannot sufficiently provide, we believe that those diagnosed with ASD cannot turn to religion because of their social deficiencies and inherent emphasis on rationality.

Although autism research has recently expanded, there is still much we do not understand about the disorder. Especially for the families of those with ASD, there is not much information to provide them on how to support their loved one. While many use religious communities as a system of support and knowledge, many ASD individuals are unable to understand or adhere to religion. Given this disadvantage, we believe our research will help provide the information necessary for ASD individuals and their families. Additionally, it will inform religious parents why their ASD child is non-religious so they can better understand and support their child. Therefore, our research could allow family and loved ones to either breakdown religion to the ASD individual in a more appealing fashion or find other means of support for the individual.

Autism and special interests

We aim to further explore and study the qualities and behaviors of those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and figure out the cause of their behaviors and their effects on the lives of those diagnosed and those around them.