A new study from Stanford Medicine reveals that the brains of autistic teenagers process unfamiliar voices differently than their neurotypical peers, which may shape their social challenges during adolescence.
The Research
Published July 13, 2026, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study led by Dr. Daniel Abrams and Dr. Vinod Menon examined brain responses to voices in autistic and neurotypical teenagers. Using fMRI, researchers measured activity in reward and salience centers—regions that determine what we pay attention to. In typically developing teens, these regions showed a surge in responsiveness to unfamiliar voices as they aged, reflecting growing social curiosity. However, in autistic teens, responsiveness to strangers’ voices remained flat across adolescence. Among older teens with more severe autism symptoms, responsiveness actually decreased. Interestingly, autistic teens’ brains showed increasing responsiveness to their mothers’ voices, while neurotypical teens shifted away from maternal voices toward peers.
Why It Matters
This finding highlights that autism involves not just static brain differences, but a divergent developmental trajectory. Adolescence is a critical window for social learning, and the brain typically tunes itself to novel social cues. When that tuning fails, it may explain why many autistic teens struggle to form new friendships despite wanting them. The study opens a “golden opportunity” for targeted therapies during the teenage years, when the brain remains highly plastic.
What You Can Do
For parents and educators: recognize that autistic teens’ social motivation may be present, but their brains process social rewards differently. Encourage peer interactions in low-pressure settings, use their interests to build connections, and consider voice-based social training programs. For anyone curious about their own cognitive profile, understanding how your brain prioritizes social information can help you tailor your social experiences.
Source: Neuroscience News
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