{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,29]],"date-time":"2026-08-29T17:38:01Z","timestamp":1788025081436,"version":"build-2784847793"},"reference-count":96,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]],"date-time":"2025-09-09T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757376000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychiatry"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by underdeveloped social cognition, along with restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. ASD manifests through a range of genetic, environmental, and psychosocial factors, which influence brain development and lead to maladaptive social and behavioral processes. While early diagnosis is common, ASD traits can develop and express themselves through various stages of childhood, driven by dynamic changes in cognitive and social abilities in relation to stressors and challenges. A recent study reports genomic and psychological evidence for two different age-related trajectories of autism development, one early, and one later and near the time of adrenarche and middle childhood, around ages 7 - 10. Given that middle childhood represents a key period for the development of social cognition including complex theory of mind and peer relationships, that adrenarche mediates the origin and social adaptations of middle childhood, and that social challenges increase with its onset, we hypothesize that autism onset, expression and diagnoses during this period may involve alterations to adrenarche, and to its endocrinological and neurological bases. Adrenarche involves onset and increase in secretion of the androgens dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS). A series of systematic reviews was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that DHEA or DHEAS levels are associated with ASD, autism spectrum traits, or aspects of brain development relevant to autism. The reviews showed that: (1) higher DHEA demonstrated evidence of positive associations with aspects of internalizing and externalizing, including social anxiety, with especially notable effects in girls, and (2) higher DHEA showed evidence of association with ASD diagnoses overall, as also indicated by a recent meta-analysis. These findings provide initial support for the hypothesis that alterations to the social adaptations associated with adrenarche, and DHEA levels in middle childhood may underlie a subtype of autism with diagnosis during this developmental period.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1576392","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]],"date-time":"2025-09-09T11:36:27Z","timestamp":1757417787000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Adrenarche, social cognition, and the development and evolution of autism spectrum traits"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Cory","family":"Szakal","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bernard","family":"Crespi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","volume-title":"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders","year":"2013"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7610.2010.02349.x","article-title":"Research Review: Constraining heterogeneity: the social brain and its development in autism spectrum disorder: Research Review: Constraining heterogeneity","volume":"52","author":"Pelphrey","year":"2011","journal-title":"J Child Psychol Psychiatry"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1182","DOI":"10.1001\/jama.2017.12141","article-title":"The heritability of autism spectrum disorder","volume":"318","author":"Sandin","year":"2017","journal-title":"JAMA"},{"key":"B4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s40473-014-0023-0","article-title":"Genome-wide association studies of autism","volume":"1","author":"Glessner","year":"2014","journal-title":"Curr Behav Neurosci Rep"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"217","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm8020217","article-title":"Risk and protective environmental factors associated with autism spectrum disorder: evidence-based principles and recommendations","volume":"8","author":"Emberti Gialloreti","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"8393","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-024-58907-w","article-title":"Clinical, socio-demographic, and parental correlates of early autism traits in a community cohort of toddlers","volume":"14","author":"Gale-Grant","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2010.00223\/abstract","article-title":"Prenatal maternal stress associated with ADHD and autistic traits in early childhood","volume":"1","author":"Ronald","year":"2011","journal-title":"Front Psychol [Internet]"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12264-017-0100-y","article-title":"An overview of autism spectrum disorder, heterogeneity and treatment options","volume":"33","author":"Masi","year":"2017","journal-title":"Neurosci Bull"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1362361320971107","article-title":"Age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis from 2012 to 2019","volume":"25","author":"Van \u2018T Hof","year":"2021","journal-title":"Autism"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1362361313480277","article-title":"Explaining differences in age at autism spectrum disorder diagnosis: A critical review","volume":"18","author":"Daniels","year":"2014","journal-title":"Autism"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/aur.3059","article-title":"Does camouflaging predict age at autism diagnosis? A comparison of autistic men and women","volume":"17","author":"Milner","year":"2024","journal-title":"Autism Res"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"119","DOI":"10.1186\/1741-7015-11-119","article-title":"Developmental heterochrony and the evolution of autistic perception, cognition and behavior","volume":"11","author":"Crespi","year":"2013","journal-title":"BMC Med"},{"key":"B13","article-title":"Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of mental disorders in the World Health Organization\u2019s World Mental Health Survey Initiative","volume":"6","author":"Kessler","year":"2007","journal-title":"World Psychiatry Off J World Psychiatr Assoc WPA"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1037\/0003-066X.47.3.373","article-title":"The concept of mental disorder: On the boundary between biological facts and social values","volume":"47","author":"Wakefield","year":"1992","journal-title":"Am Psychol"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1007\/978-3-319-47143-3_5","article-title":"Middle childhood: an evolutionary-developmental synthesis","volume-title":"Handbook of Life Course Health Development","author":"DelGiudice","year":"2018"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/ajhb.20528","article-title":"Adrenarche and the evolution of human life history","volume":"18","author":"Campbell","year":"2006","journal-title":"Am J Hum Biol"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12110-011-9120-x","article-title":"Adrenarche and middle childhood","volume":"22","author":"Campbell","year":"2011","journal-title":"Hum Nat"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/cdev.13627","article-title":"The development of advanced theory of mind in middle childhood: A longitudinal study from age 5 to 10 years","volume":"92","author":"Osterhaus","year":"2021","journal-title":"Child Dev"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/pch\/17.2.81","article-title":"Spotlight on middle childhood: Rejuvenating the \u2018forgotten years.\u2019","volume":"17","author":"Mah","year":"2012","journal-title":"Paediatr Child Health"},{"key":"B20","volume-title":"An axis of genetic heterogeneity in autism is indexed by age at diagnosis and is associated with varying developmental and mental health profiles","author":"Zhang","year":"2024"},{"key":"B21","article-title":"Autistic disturbances of affective contact","volume":"2","author":"Kanner","year":"1943","journal-title":"Nerv Child"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1093\/med\/9780195371826.003.0062","article-title":"Extreme male brain theory of autism: the role of fetal androgens","volume-title":"Autism Spectrum Disorders","author":"Baron-Cohen","year":"2011"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2015.00264\/abstract","article-title":"Autism spectrum traits in normal individuals: a preliminary VBM analysis","volume":"9","author":"Focquaert","year":"2015","journal-title":"Front Hum Neurosci"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10802-010-9417-y","article-title":"Attachment and autism: parental attachment representations and relational behaviors in the parent-child dyad","volume":"38","author":"Seskin","year":"2010","journal-title":"J Abnorm Child Psychol"},{"key":"B25","article-title":"The role of joint attention in pragmatic language development in children with autism spectrum disorders","volume":"32","author":"Geib","year":"2018","journal-title":"Clin Psychol Diss"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.rasd.2010.09.001","article-title":"Language acquisition in autism spectrum disorders: A developmental review","volume":"5","author":"Eigsti","year":"2011","journal-title":"Res Autism Spectr Disord"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"47","DOI":"10.1177\/1077559515616703","article-title":"Language problems among abused and neglected children: A meta-analytic review","volume":"21","author":"Sylvestre","year":"2016","journal-title":"Child Maltreat"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1016\/j.nic.2019.09.009","article-title":"The neurodevelopment of autism from infancy through toddlerhood","volume":"30","author":"Girault","year":"2020","journal-title":"Neuroimaging Clin N Am"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2020.00101","article-title":"DHEAS and human development: an evolutionary perspective","volume":"11","author":"Campbell","year":"2020","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/dev.22022","article-title":"How does peer adversity \u201cGet inside the Brain?\u201d Adolescent girls\u2019 differential susceptibility to neural dysregulation of emotion following victimization","volume":"63","author":"Rudolph","year":"2021","journal-title":"Dev Psychobiol"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/87565641.2010.550178","article-title":"Neural systems of threat processing in adolescents: role of pubertal maturation and relation to measures of negative affect","volume":"36","author":"Forbes","year":"2011","journal-title":"Dev Neuropsychol"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.589403","article-title":"Toward an integrated model of supportive peer relationships in early adolescence: A systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Mitic","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Psychol"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/21683603.2020.1744492","article-title":"Development of social skills during middle childhood: Growth trajectories and school-related predictors","volume":"9","author":"S\u00f8rlie","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Sch Educ Psychol"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dcn.2016.12.004","article-title":"A systematic review of adrenarche as a sensitive period in neurobiological development and mental health","volume":"25","author":"Byrne","year":"2017","journal-title":"Dev Cognit Neurosci"},{"key":"B35","first-page":"295","article-title":"The 5 to 7 transition as an ecocultural project","volume-title":"Five Seven Year Shift Age Reason Responsib","author":"Weisner","year":"1996"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000369458","article-title":"Premature adrenarche - A common condition with variable presentation","volume":"83","author":"Utriainen","year":"2015","journal-title":"Horm Res Paediatr"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2010.01.006","article-title":"Acute and chronic stress increase DHEAS concentrations in rhesus monkeys","volume":"35","author":"Maninger","year":"2010","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.22399","article-title":"The neurosteroids allopregnanolone and dehydroepiandrosterone modulate resting-state amygdala connectivity","volume":"35","author":"Sripada","year":"2014","journal-title":"Hum Brain Mapp"},{"key":"B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/13623613231195108","article-title":"Changes in the severity of autism symptom domains are related to mental health challenges during middle childhood","volume":"28","author":"Waizbard-Bartov","year":"2024","journal-title":"AUTISM"},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1469-7610.2006.01723.x","article-title":"Salivary dehydroepiandrosterone responsiveness to social challenge in adolescents with internalizing problems","volume":"48","author":"Shirtcliff","year":"2007","journal-title":"J Child Psychol Psychiatry"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.biopsycho.2009.01.004","article-title":"Salivary gonadal and adrenal hormone differences in boys and girls with and without disruptive behavior disorders: Contextual variants","volume":"81","author":"Dorn","year":"2009","journal-title":"Biol Psychol"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nsv014","article-title":"Associations between early adrenarche, affective brain function and mental health in children","volume":"10","author":"Whittle","year":"2015","journal-title":"Soc Cognit Affect Neurosci"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2018.07.020","article-title":"Associations between adrenarcheal hormones, amygdala functional connectivity and anxiety symptoms in children","volume":"97","author":"Barendse","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1001\/archpedi.153.2.137","article-title":"Biopsychological and Cognitive Differences in Children With Premature vs On-Time Adrenarche","volume":"153","author":"Dorn","year":"1999","journal-title":"Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1467-8624.2007.01092.x","article-title":"Family environments, adrenarche, and sexual maturation: A longitudinal test of a life history model","volume":"78","author":"Ellis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Child Dev"},{"key":"B46","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104824","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yhbeh.2020.104816","article-title":"Pubertal recalibration of cortisol-DHEA coupling in previously-institutionalized children","volume":"125","author":"Howland","year":"2020","journal-title":"Horm Behav"},{"key":"B47","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jadohealth.2015.09.001","article-title":"Adrenarche and the emotional and behavioral problems of late childhood","volume":"57","author":"Mundy","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Adolesc Health"},{"key":"B48","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2015.11.004","article-title":"Associations between dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) levels, pituitary volume, and social anxiety in children","volume":"64","author":"Murray","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B49","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0954579411000782","article-title":"Executive functioning, cortisol reactivity, and symptoms of psychopathology in girls with premature adrenarche","volume":"24","author":"Sontag-Padilla","year":"2012","journal-title":"Dev Psychopathol"},{"key":"B50","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02090322","article-title":"The relation of relative hormonal levels and physical development and social-emotional behavior in young adolescents","volume":"14","author":"Susman","year":"1985","journal-title":"J Youth Adolesc"},{"key":"B51","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1037\/abn0000721","article-title":"Multimethod assessment of pubertal timing and associations with internalizing psychopathology in early adolescent girls","volume":"131","author":"Barendse","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Psychopathol Clin Sci"},{"key":"B52","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"739","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaac.2019.04.018","article-title":"Adrenarcheal timing longitudinally predicts anxiety symptoms via amygdala connectivity during emotion processing","volume":"59","author":"Barendse","year":"2020","journal-title":"J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry"},{"key":"B53","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1159\/000501719","article-title":"Associations of IGF - 1 and adrenal androgens with cognition in childhood","volume":"91","author":"M\u00e4ntyselk\u00e4","year":"2019","journal-title":"Horm Res Paediatr"},{"key":"B54","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104717","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2020.104751","article-title":"Increased dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is associated with anxiety in adolescent girls","volume":"119","author":"Mulligan","year":"2020","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B55","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2006.09.005","article-title":"Adrenal androgen and gonadal hormone levels in adolescent girls with conduct disorder","volume":"31","author":"Pajer","year":"2006","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B56","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.yhbeh.2006.02.004","article-title":"Aggression, dominance, and affiliation:: Their relationships with androgen levels and intelligence in 5-year-old children","volume":"50","author":"Azurmendi","year":"2006","journal-title":"Horm Behav"},{"key":"B57","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"14","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2017.03.013","article-title":"Social status strategy in early adolescent girls: Testosterone and value-based decision making","volume":"81","author":"Cardoos","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B58","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"33","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2013.12.002","article-title":"Within-adolescent coupled changes in cortisol with DHEA and testosterone in response to three stressors during adolescence","volume":"41","author":"Marceau","year":"2014","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B59","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41390-022-02415-y","article-title":"Linking specific biological signatures to different childhood adversities: findings from the HERO project","volume":"94","author":"de Mendonca","year":"2023","journal-title":"Pediatr Res"},{"key":"B60","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41390-023-02992-6","article-title":"Associations between social adversity and biomarkers of inflammation, stress, and aging in children","volume":"95","author":"Pantell","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pediatr Res"},{"key":"B61","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1097\/PSY.0000000000000369","article-title":"Dimensions of adversity, physiological reactivity, and externalizing psychopathology in adolescence: deprivation and threat","volume":"79","author":"Busso","year":"2017","journal-title":"Psychosom Med"},{"key":"B62","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0033291797006314","article-title":"Adrenal steroid secretion and major depression in 8- to 16-yr-olds: III Influence of cortisol\/DHEA ratio at presentation on subsequent rates of disappointing life events and persistent major depression","volume":"28","author":"Goodyer","year":"1998","journal-title":"Psychol Med"},{"key":"B63","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S0954579422000335","article-title":"Profiles of diurnal cortisol and DHEA regulation among children: Associations with maltreatment experiences, symptomatology, and positive adaptation","volume":"35","author":"Handley","year":"2023","journal-title":"Dev Psychopathol"},{"key":"B64","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"104428","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2019.104424","article-title":"Early trauma moderates the link between familial risk for depression and post-stress DHEA\/cortisol ratios in adolescents","volume":"110","author":"Micol","year":"2019","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B65","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"299","DOI":"10.1159\/000511629","article-title":"DHEA moderates the impact of childhood trauma on the HPA axis in adolescence","volume":"80","author":"Taylor-Cavelier","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neuropsychobiology"},{"key":"B66","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10964-014-0182-z","article-title":"Biological stress regulation in female adolescents: A key role for confiding","volume":"44","author":"Oskis","year":"2015","journal-title":"J Youth Adolesc"},{"key":"B67","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-97266-8","article-title":"A potential role for the adrenal gland in autism","volume":"11","author":"Al-Zaid","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"B68","article-title":"Faulty serotonin\u2013DHEA interactions in autism: results of the 5-hydroxytryptophan challenge test","volume":"29","author":"Croonenberghs","year":"2008","journal-title":"Neuro Endocrinol Lett"},{"key":"B69","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"79","DOI":"10.1515\/ijamh-2012-0116","article-title":"Hyperandrogenemia in male autistic children and adolescents: Relation to disease severity","volume":"26","author":"El-Baz","year":"2014","journal-title":"Int J Adolesc Med Health"},{"key":"B70","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"955","DOI":"10.3390\/life12060867","article-title":"How is CYP17A1 activity altered in autism? A pilot study to identify potential pharmacological targets","volume":"12","author":"Gasser","year":"2022","journal-title":"Life-BasEL"},{"key":"B71","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12031-018-1225-9","article-title":"Possible metabolic alterations among autistic male children: clinical and biochemical approaches","volume":"67","author":"Hassan","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Mol Neurosci"},{"key":"B72","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"97","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-023-04586-2","article-title":"Analysis of salivary steroid hormones in boys with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"23","author":"He","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"B73","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"295","DOI":"10.1007\/BF02179290","article-title":"Plasma androgens in autism","volume":"25","author":"Tordjman","year":"1995","journal-title":"J Autism Dev Disord"},{"key":"B74","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1038\/s41398-020-01017-8","article-title":"Alteration of the steroidogenesis in boys with autism spectrum disorders","volume":"10","author":"Jans\u00e1kov\u00e1","year":"2020","journal-title":"Transl Psychiatry"},{"key":"B75","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"73","DOI":"10.30773\/pi.2021.0094","article-title":"The relationship of steroid hormones, genes related to testosterone metabolism and behavior in boys with autism in Slovakia","volume":"19","author":"Lakatosov\u00e1","year":"2022","journal-title":"Psychiatry Investig"},{"key":"B76","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1365-2265.2007.02868.x","article-title":"Elevated levels of growth-related hormones in autism and autism spectrum disorder","volume":"67","author":"Mills","year":"2007","journal-title":"Clin Endocrinol (Oxf)"},{"key":"B77","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00787-013-0472-0","article-title":"Marked elevation of adrenal steroids, especially androgens, in saliva of prepubertal autistic children","volume":"23","author":"Majewska","year":"2014","journal-title":"Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry"},{"key":"B78","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s12098-022-04080-9","article-title":"Evaluation of hyperandrogenism in children with autism spectrum disorder","volume":"89","author":"Sriram","year":"2022","journal-title":"Indian J Pediatr"},{"key":"B79","article-title":"A prospective assessment of androgen levels in patients with autistic spectrum disorders: biochemical underpinnings and suggested therapies","volume":"28","author":"Geier","year":"2007","journal-title":"Neuro Endocrinol Lett"},{"key":"B80","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1159\/000094467","article-title":"A clinical and laboratory evaluation of methionine cycle-transsulfuration and androgen pathway markers in children with autistic disorders","volume":"66","author":"Geier","year":"2006","journal-title":"Horm Res"},{"key":"B81","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jocrd.2016.04.002","article-title":"Testosterone and DHEA-S levels with chronic tic disorder in children","volume":"9","author":"Erbay","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Obsessive-Compuls Relat Disord"},{"key":"B82","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2024.1371148","article-title":"Androgen levels in autism spectrum disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"15","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol"},{"key":"B83","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jcpp.13952","article-title":"DHEA : a neglected biological signal that may affect fetal and child development","volume":"65","author":"Bailey","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Child Psychol Psychiatry"},{"key":"B84","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1002\/hbm.26673","article-title":"Specialization of amygdala subregions in emotion processing","volume":"45","author":"Labuschagne","year":"2024","journal-title":"Hum Brain Mapp"},{"key":"B85","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nst160","article-title":"Insula\u2013amygdala functional connectivity is correlated with habituation to repeated negative images","volume":"9","author":"Denny","year":"2014","journal-title":"Soc Cognit Affect Neurosci"},{"key":"B86","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0096146","article-title":"Increased amygdala and visual cortex activity and functional connectivity towards stimulus novelty is associated with state anxiety","volume":"9","author":"Ousdal","year":"2014","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"B87","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1093\/scan\/nst050","article-title":"Elevated amygdala response to faces and gaze aversion in autism spectrum disorder","volume":"9","author":"Tottenham","year":"2014","journal-title":"Soc Cognit Affect Neurosci"},{"key":"B88","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3389\/fnhum.2013.00894","article-title":"The amygdala and the relevance detection theory of autism: an evolutionary perspective","volume":"7","author":"Zalla","year":"2013","journal-title":"Front Hum Neurosci"},{"key":"B89","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.psyneuen.2016.05.003","article-title":"The developmental relationship between DHEA and visual attention is mediated by structural plasticity of cortico-amygdalar networks","volume":"70","author":"Nguyen","year":"2016","journal-title":"Psychoneuroendocrinology"},{"key":"B90","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/desc.13275","article-title":"Attentional control in middle childhood is highly dynamic\u2014Strong initial distraction is followed by advanced attention control","volume":"25","author":"Volkmer","year":"2022","journal-title":"Dev Sci"},{"key":"B91","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1523\/JNEUROSCI.5747-12.2013","article-title":"Interactive effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and testosterone on cortical thickness during early brain development","volume":"33","author":"Nguyen","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Neurosci"},{"key":"B92","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108054","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neuropsychologia.2021.108054","article-title":"The influence of TMS of the rTPJ on attentional control and mentalizing","volume":"162","author":"Schuwerk","year":"2021","journal-title":"Neuropsychologia"},{"key":"B93","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/dmcn.15263","article-title":"Cognitive empathy across the lifespan","volume":"64","author":"Dorris","year":"2022","journal-title":"Dev Med Child Neurol"},{"key":"B94","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.4306\/pi.2015.12.4.538","article-title":"Neurosteroid levels in patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder","volume":"12","author":"Erbay","year":"2015","journal-title":"Psychiatry Investig"},{"key":"B95","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"105540","DOI":"10.1016\/j.neubiorev.2024.105637","article-title":"The role of neuroactive steroids in tic disorders","volume":"160","author":"Branca","year":"2024","journal-title":"Neurosci Biobehav Rev"},{"key":"B96","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jaac.2016.09.434","article-title":"Cognitive-behavior treatment for child and adolescent obsessive-compulsive disorder: one year outcomes from the Nordic long-term obsessive-compulsive disorder treatment study (Nordlots)","volume":"55","author":"H\u00f8jgaard","year":"2016","journal-title":"J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychiatry"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1576392\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]],"date-time":"2025-09-09T11:36:30Z","timestamp":1757417790000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1576392\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]]},"references-count":96,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1576392"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyt.2025.1576392","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-0640"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-0640","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,9]]},"article-number":"1576392"}}