Laboratory for Innovation in AutismResearch Outputs

Our lab advances theories of embodiment and intersubjectivity in early psychological development, which underpin experiences related to learning, emotional wellbeing, and health. These advancements are reflected in our neuroscientific, psychological, and educational research, catalysed by engineering and technology developments that advance scalable methods and practical benefits for inclusive educational and therapeutic practices. Our work is published in peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly papers, and delivers real world impact through our clinical and educational partners, parents, and stakeholders in the autism and neurodiverse communities.

Publications

  1. A multi-level analysis of motor and behavioural dynamics in 9-month-old preterm and term-born infants during changing emotional and interactive contexts.
    Chua, Y. W., Jiménez-Sánchez, L., Ledsham, V., O’Carroll, S., Cox, R. F., Andonovic, I., ... & Delafield-Butt, J. (2025). Scientific Reports, 15(1), 952, 1-19.
  2. A handbook for Rhythmic Relating in autism: Supporting social timing in play, learning and therapy.
    Daniel, S., Laurie, M., & Delafield-Butt, J. T. (2024). Frontiers in Psychology, 15,     1-23.
  3. Motor control adherence to the two-thirds power law differs in autistic development. 
    Fourie, E., Lu, S. C., Delafield-Butt, J., & Rivera, S. M. (2024). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-18.
  4. Motor signature differences between autism spectrum disorder and developmental coordination disorder, and their neural mechanisms. 
    Butera, C., Delafield-Butt, J., Lu, S. C., Sobota, K., McGowan, T., Harrison, L., ... & Aziz-Zadeh, L. (2023). Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-16. 
  5. La Intencionalidad de los niños como origen del significado compartido. 
    Delafield-Butt, J., Subirá, À. M., Ferré, L. B., Blanch, J. M., & Martorell, M. M. (2023). Revista de Psicopatología y Salud Mental del Niño y del Adolescente, 42. 
  6. Alteración del self nuclear en el autismo y su cuidado. 
    Delafield-Butt, J., Dunbar, P., & Trevarthen, C. (2023). Aperturas Psicoanalíticas, 72, e5.
  7. Neonatal participation in neonatal imitation: Narrative in newborn dialogues. 
    McGowan, T., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2023). Human Development, 67(3), 135-153. 
  8. Swipe kinematic differences in young children with autism spectrum disorders are task-and age-dependent: A smart tablet game approach. 
    Lu, S. C., Rowe, P., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2022). Brain Disorders, 5, 100032.
  9. The use of a tablet-based app for investigating the influence of autistic and ADHD traits on performance in a complex drawing task. 
    Savickaite, S., Morrison, C., Lux, E., Delafield-Butt, J., & Simmons, D. R. (2022). Behavior Research Methods, 54(5), 2479-2501.
  10. Disruption to the core self in autism, and its care. 
    Delafield-Butt, J., Dunbar, P., & Trevarthen, C. (2022). Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 42(1), 53-75. 
  11. Embodiment in early development, and its disruption in autism. 
    Delafield-Butt, J. (2022). Japanese Journal of Medical and Psychological Study of Infants, 31(1), 3-20. 
  12. Narrative as co-regulation: A review of embodied narrative in infant development. 
    McGowan, T., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2022). Infant Behaviour and Development, 68, 101747.
  13. Consciousness generates agent action. 
    Delafield-Butt, J., & Trevarthen, C. (2022). Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 45.  
  14. Rhythmic relating: Bidirectional support for social timing in autism therapies. 
    Daniel, S., Wimpory, D., Delafield-Butt, J. T., Malloch, S., Holck, U., Geretsegger, M., … & Amos, P. (2022). Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 793258.
  15. Developmental differences in the prospective organisation of goal-directed movement between children with autism and typically developing children: A smart tablet serious game study.
    Chua, Y. W., Lu, S. C., Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Rowe, P., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2022). Developmental Science, 25(3), e13195.
  16. Autism and panpsychism: Putting process in mind.
    Delafield-Butt, J. (2021). Journal of Consciousness Studies, 28(9-10), 76-90.
  17. 'Disruption to embodiment in autism, and its repair'
    Delafield-Butt, J., Dunbar, P., & Trevarthen, C. (2021). In N. Papaneophytou & U. N. Das (Eds.), Emerging Programs for Autism Spectrum Disorder (pp. 69-96). Academic Press.
  18. 'Observing and interpreting embodied interactions: Interpreting voice from birth to 3 years'
    McGowan, T., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2021). In R. Marcus & B. Stokoe (Eds.), Research Through Play: Participatory Methods in Early Childhood (pp. 83-102). Sage.
  19. Making meaning together: Embodied narratives in a case of severe autism.
    Delafield-Butt, J. T., Zeedyk, M. S., Harder, S., Vaever, M. S., & Caldwell, P. (2020). Psychopathology, 53(2), 60-73.
  20. 'Infant intentions: Learning with others'
    Delafield-Butt, J., & Trevarthen, C. (2020). In M. A. Peters (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Teacher Education (pp. 1-5). Singapore: Springer Nature.
  21. Phase 3 diagnostic evaluation of a smart tablet serious game to identify autism in 760 children 3-5 years old in Sweden and the United Kingdom.
    Millar, L., McConnachie, A., Minnis, H., Wilson, P., Thompson, L., Anzulewicz, A., ... & Delafield-Butt, J. (2019). BMJ Open, 9(7), e026226.
  22. Brainstem enlargement in pre-school children with autism: Results from an inter-method agreement study of segmentation algorithms.
    Bosco, P., Giuliano, A., Delafield‐Butt, J., Muratori, F., Calderoni, S., & Retico, A. (2019). Human Brain Mapping, 40(1), 7-19.
  23. 'The early embodied development of ASD, and its care'
    Trevarthen, C., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2019). In U. N. Das, N. Papaneophytou, & T. El-Kour (Eds.), Autism Spectrum Disorder (pp. 123-132). Elsevier.
  24. Being misunderstood in autism: The role of motor disruption in expressive communication, implications for satisfying social relations.
    Delafield-Butt, J., Trevarthen, C., Rowe, P., & Gillberg, C. (2018). Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 42, e86.
  25. Prospective organisation of neonatal arm movements: A motor foundation of embodied agency, disrupted in premature birth.
    Delafield‐Butt, J., Freer, Y., Perkins, J., Skulina, D., Schögler, B., & Lee, D. N. (2018). Developmental Science, 21(6), e12693.
  26. The Child's Curriculum: Working With the Natural Values of Young Children
    Trevarthen, C., Delafield-Butt, J., & Dunlop, A-W. (Eds.) (2018). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  27. 'Defining the child's curriculum, and its role in the life of the community'
    Trevarthen, C., Dunlop, A-W. & Delafield-Butt, J. (2018). In In C. Trevarthen, J. Delafield-Butt, & A-W. Dunlop (Eds.), The Child's Curriculum (pp. 1-12). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  28. 'The emotional and embodied nature of human understanding: sharing narratives of meaning'
    Delafield-Butt, J. (2018). In C. Trevarthen, J. Delafield-Butt, & A-W. Dunlop (Eds.), The Child's Curriculum (pp. 33-48). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  29. 'The spirit of the child inspires learning in the community: how can we balance this promise with the politics and practice of education?'
    Trevarthen, C., Dunlop, A-W., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2018). In C. Trevarthen, J. Delafield-Butt, & A-W. Dunlop (Eds.), The Child's Curriculum (pp. 311-318). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  30. 'On the brainstem origin of autism: disruption to movements of the primary self'
    Delafield-Butt, J. & Trevarthen, C. (2017). In E. B. Torres & C. Whyatt (Eds.), Autism: The Movement Sensing Perspective (pp. 119-138). Abingdon: Routledge.
  31. Social and emotional development in nurture groups: The narrative structure of learning through companionship.
    Adie, J., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2016). The Psychology of Education Review, 40(2).
  32. Teaching children with autism spectrum disorder with restricted interests: A review of evidence for best practice.
    Gunn, K. C., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2016). Review of Educational Research, 86(2), 408-430.
  33. The embodied narrative nature of learning: Nurture in school.
    Delafield‐Butt, J., & Adie, J. (2016). Mind, Brain, and Education, 10(2), 117-131.
  34. Toward the autism motor signature: Gesture patterns during smart tablet gameplay identify children with autism.
    Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2016). Scientific Reports, 6(1), 31107.
  35. Embodied intersubjective engagement in mother-infant tactile communication: A cross-cultural study of Japanese and Scottish mother-infant behaviours during infant pick-up.
    Negayama, K., Delafield-Butt, J., Momose, K., Ishijima, K., Kawahara, N., Lux, E., ... & Kaliarntas, K. (2015). Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 102974.
  36. The ontogenesis of narrative: From moving to meaning.
    Delafield-Butt, J., & Trevarthen, C. (2015). Frontiers in Psychology, 6, 98961.
  37. Autism as a developmental disorder in intentional movement and affective engagement.
    Trevarthen, C. & Delafield-Butt, J. (2013). Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 7, 49.

Posters & Conference Papers

  1. Parental verbal responsiveness to autistic children: When and how?
    Shannon, R., McCool, S., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2024, July). Child Language Symposium 2024.
  2. Right hand motor control difference between adults with and without autism.
    Lu, S. C., Taffoni, F., Provenzale, C., Rowe, P. J., Pollick, F., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2024, May). International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) 2024 Annual Meeting.
  3. Characterising gameplay and autism spectrum disorder development with swipe pattern networks. 
    Clark, R., Macdonald, M., Lu, S. C., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2024, April). CompleNet 2024.
  4. Moving in autism: Toward improved autistic wellbeing through motion analysis.
    Lu, S. C., Rowe, P., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2023, August). Scottish Autism Research Group (SARG) Conference 2023: Autistic Wellbeing.
  5. Artificial intelligence identification of autism using a smart tablet serious game for preschool children: Results from a Phase 3 diagnostic trial of 779 children in Sweden and the United Kingdom.
    Delafield-Butt, J., Lu, S. C., Sobota, K., Young, R., Thompson, L., Thorsson, M., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Rowe, P., Wilson, P., & Minnis, H. (2023, May). International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting 2023.
  6. Kinematic and force control features in autistic adults during curvilinear movements.
    Lu, S. C., Rowe, P., Pollick, F., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2023, May). International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting 2023.
  7. Adherence to the two-thirds power law and kinematic differences in children with autism during ellipse drawing and tracing activities on smart-tablet.
    Fourie, E., Lu, S. C., Delafield-Butt, J., & Rivera, S. M. (2022, May). International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting 2022.
  8. A prospective perception-action strategy in children with autism during smart-tablet gameplay.
    Lu, S. C., Lee, D., Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., Rowe, P., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I. and Delafield-Butt, J. (2021, May). International Society for Autism Research Virtual Annual Meeting 2021.
  9. Behavioural dynamics of emotional self-regulation during the still-face paradigm: differences at 9-months due to prematurity and effect on 2-year autistic traits.
    Chua, Y. W., Ginnell, L., Ledsham, V., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Boardman, J. P., Rowe, P., Fletcher-Watson, S., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2021, May). International Society for Autism Research Virtual Annual Meeting 2021.
  10. Brainstem morphometric differences in children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental coordination disorder, and those typically developing.
    Bosco, P., Harrison, L., Retico, A., Butera, C., Calderoni, S., Muratori, F., Aziz-Zadeh, L., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2021, May). International Society for Autism Research Virtual Annual Meeting 2021.
  11. Smart tablet-based gameplay identification of preschool children with autism: A replication study with machine learning data analytics improvements.
    Sobota, K., Anzulewicz, A., Zaremba, D., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2019, May). International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting 2019.
  12. Kinematics of prospective motor control in autism spectrum disorder: An exploratory multilevel modelling analysis of goal-directed finger movements during smart-tablet gameplay.
    Chua, Y. W., Lu, S. C., Rowe, P., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K. & Delafield-Butt, J. (2019, May). International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting 2019.
  13. The movements of children with autism can be faster or slower than their typically developing counterparts, depending on the task.
    Lu, S. C., Rowe, P., Tachtatzis, C., Andonovic, I., Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K. & Delafield-Butt, J. (2019, May). International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting 2019.
  14. Disruption to motor intentions in children with autism: Kinematic evidence for brainstem timing errors.
    Delafield-Butt, J. T., Sobota, K., Anzulewicz, A., Lu, S. C., Millar, L. & Rowe, P. (2018, May). International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting 2018.
  15. Tablet-based gameplay identifies movement patterns related to autism spectrum disorder.
    Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2018, March). Cognitive Neuroscience Society 25th Annual Meeting.
  16. The impact of online computer games on mental health of children with autism or hearing loss.
    Alawajee, O., Delafield-Butt, J., & Costa, C. (2018, May). International Society for Autism Research Annual Meeting 2018.
  17. Inter-method reliability of brainstem volume segmentation algorithms in preschoolers with ASD.
    Bosco, P., Giuliano, A., Delafield-Butt, J., Muratori, F., Calderoni, S., & Retico, A. (2017, February). Organization for Human Brain Mapping (OHBM) Annual Meeting 2017.
  18. Potential movement biomarkers for autism in children and adolescents.
    Butera, C., Delafield-Butt, J., Kilroy, E., Harrison, L., Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., & Aziz-Zadeh, L. (2017, April). University of Southern California Research Day 2017.
  19. Diagnosis of speech errors in children with autism using ultrasound.
    McKeever, L., Cleland, J., & Delafield-Butt, J. (2016, September). The Digital Human: Humanities and Social Sciences in the Digital Age.
  20. Motor differences identify children with autism engaged in iPad gameplay.
    Anzulewicz, A., Sobota, K., Ferrara, M., & Delafield-Butt, J. T. (2016, May). International Meeting for Autism Research 2016.
  21. Motor kinematic differences in children with autism spectrum disorder: Ecological gameplay with a sensorised toy.
    Ferrara, M., Zuccalá, V. C., Cecchi, F., Laschi, C., Delafield-Butt, J. T., & Passetti, G. (2016, May). International Meeting for Autism Research 2016.