Focus description
Our research focuses, broadly, on the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Neurodevelopmental disorders often persist over the life span and can be accompanied by psychiatric comorbidities. A major focus of our research lies in investigating the communication patterns in interactions of people with ASD. Importantly, non-verbal communication in ASD is characterized by qualitative differences in single communicative behaviours and in their integration (e.g. eye gaze and gestures). Temporal factors play a major role in these differences. We assess these and related factors by means of psychophysical experiments, movement analyses, eye-tracking, psychophysiological measurements, neuroimaging, and neuroendocrine measures. Furthermore, we work on the development of diagnostic and screening instruments.
Ongoing studies
We are always looking for participants for our studies. These can be people with a confirmed diagnosis, as well as control subjects without psychiatric or neurological disorders. If you are interested in participating in one or more studies, please contact us via email. You can find more information under the tab “Participate”.
To download:
Download the German version of Sensory perception questionnaire here!
How to cite:
Bierlich, A.M., Bloch, C., Spyra, T., Lanz, C., Falter-Wagner, C.M., & Vogeley, K. (2024). An evaluation of the German version of the Sensory Perception Quotient from an expert by experience perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1252277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1252277
NEVIA publications:
Falter-Wagner, C. M., Gernert, C., Noreika, V., Jachs, B., Jassim, N., Gibbs, K., Streicher, J., Betts, H., & Bekinschtein, T. A. (in press). Stress in Autism (STREAM): A Study Protocol on the Role of Circadian Activity, Sleep Quality and Sensory Hyper-Reactivity. PLoS ONE.
Bierlich*, A.M., Bloch*, C., Spyra, T., Lanz, C., Falter-Wagner^, C.M., & Vogeley^, K. (2024). An evaluation of the German version of the Sensory Perception Quotient from an expert by experience perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 15:1252277. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1252277 *shared first authorship; ^equally contributing senior authors
Koehler, J.C., Dong, M.S., Bierlich, A.M., Fischer, S., Späth, J., Plank, I.S., Koutsouleris, N., & Falter-Wagner, C.M. (2024). Machine learning classification of autism spectrum disorder based on reciprocity in naturalistic social interactions. Transl Psychiatry 14, 76. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-02802-5
Robles, M., Ramos-Grille I., Hervás, A., Duran-Tauleira, E., Galiano-Landeira, J., Wormwood, J., Falter-Wagner, C. M., & Chanes, L. (in press). Reduced stereotypicality and spared use of facial expression predictions for social evaluation in autism. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 24(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijchp.2024.100440
Bloch, C., Tepest, R., Koeroglu, S., Feikes, K. I., Jording, M., Vogeley, K., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (in press). Interacting with autistic virtual characters: Intrapersonal synchrony of nonverbal behavior influences participants‘ perception. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/ukh9c
Thaler, H., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2023). Autismus-Spektrum-Störung im Erwachsenenalter TT – Autism spectrum disorder in adulthood. Fortschr Neurol Psychiatr, 91(11), 466–478. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1898-5347
Plank, I. S., Koehler, J. C., Nelson, A., Koutsouleris, N., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2023). Automated extraction of speech and turn-taking parameters in autism allows for diagnostic classification using a multivariable prediction model. Frontiers in Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/upz57
Plank, I. S., Traiger, L. S., Nelson, A. M., Koehler, J. C., Lang, S. F., Tepest, R., Vogeley, K., Georgescu, A. L., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2023). The role of interpersonal synchrony in forming impressions of autistic and non-autistic adults. Scientfic Reports 13, 15306. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-42006-3
Koehler, J. C., Dong, Sen, M., Song, D.-Y., Bong, G., Koutsouleris, N., Yoo, H., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2023). Classifying autism in a clinical population based on motion synchrony: a proof-of-concept study using real-life diagnostic interviews. MedRxiv.
Bloch, C., Viswanathan, S., Tepest, R., Jording, M., Falter-Wagner, C. M., & Vogeley, K. (2023). Differentiated, rather than shared, strategies for time-coordinated action in social and non-social domains in autistic individuals. Cortex; a journal devoted to the study of the nervous system and behavior, 166, 207–232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cortex.2023.05.008
Gernert, C. C., Nelson, A., Falkai, P., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2023). Synchrony in psychotherapy: High physiological positive concordance predicts symptom reduction and negative concordance predicts symptom aggravation. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research, e1978. https://doi.org/10.1002/mpr.1978
Koehler, J. C., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2023). Digitally assisted diagnostics of autism spectrum disorder. Front. Psychiatry, 14. Preprint: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1066284
Falter-Wagner, C. M., Kiefer, C. M., Bailey, A. J., Vogeley, K., & Dammers, J. (2022). Perceptual Grouping in Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Magnetoencephalography Study. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 10.1007/s10803-022-05844-0. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05844-0
Bloch, C., Tepest, R., Jording, M., Vogeley, K., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2022). Intrapersonal synchrony analysis reveals a weaker temporal coherence between gaze and gestures in adults with autism spectrum disorder. Scientific reports, 12(1), 20417. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24605-8
Falter-Wagner, C. M., Bloch, C., Burghof, L., Lehnhardt, F.-G., & Vogeley, K. (2022). Autism traits outweigh alexithymia traits in the explanation of mentalising performance in adults with autism but not in adults with rejected autism diagnosis. Molecular Autism, 13, 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00510-9
Espelöer, J., Proft, J., Falter-Wagner*, C. M., & Vogeley*, K. (2022). Alarmingly large unemployment gap despite of above-average education in adults with ASD without intellectual disability in Germany – a cross-sectional study. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-022-01424-6. *equally contributing senior authors
Kalman, J. L., Burkhardt, G., Adorjan, K., Barton, B. B., De Jonge, S., Eser-Valeri, D., Falter-Wagner, C. M., Heilbronner, U., Jobst, A., Keeser, D., Koenig, C., Koller, G., Koutsouleris, N., Kurz, C., Landgraf, D., Merz, K., Musil, R., Nelson, A. M., Padberg, F., Papiol, S., Pogarell, O., Perneczky, R., Raabe, F., Reinhard, M. A., Richter, A., Ruether, T., Simon, M. S., Schmitt, A., Slapakova, L., Scheel, N., Schuele, C., Wagner, E., Wichert, S. P., Zill, P., Falkai, P., Schulze, T. G., & Schulte, E. C. (2022). A blueprint for biobanking in everyday clinical practice in psychiatry: The Munich Mental Health Biobank. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 934640. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.934640
Falter-Wagner, C. M., Bloch, C., Robles, M., Horch, L., Vogeley, K., & Georgescu, A. L. (2022). Figure-disembedding is inferior in non-autistic compared to autistic individuals but can be improved by training. Frontiers in Psychology, 13, 857630. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.857630
Hemmers, J., Baethge, C., Vogeley, K., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2022). Are executive dysfunctions relevant for the autism-specific cognitive profile? Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 886588. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.886588
Falter-Wagner, C.M., & Koehler, J. C. (2022). Digital-unterstützte Diagnostik bei Autismus-Spektrum-Störung. Pädiatrische Praxis, 97 (4), 1-10.
Plank, I. S., Christiansen, L. N., Kunas, S. L., Dziobek, I., & Bermpohl, F. (2022). Mothers need more information to recognise associated emotions in child facial expressions. Cognition & emotion, 1–14. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699931.2022.2105819
Robles*, M., Namdarian*, N., Otto*, J., Wassiljew, E., Navab, N., Falter-Wagner, C.M., & Roth, D. (2022). A Virtual Reality Based System for the Screening and Classification of Autism. IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics, 28(5), 2168–2178. https://doi.org/10.1109/TVCG.2022.3150489. *shared first authorship
Koehler, J. C., Georgescu, A., Weiske, J., Spangemacher, M., Burghof, L., Falkai, P., Koutsouleris N., Tschacher W., Vogeley K., & Falter-Wagner, C. (2021). Specificity of Interpersonal Synchrony Deficits to Autism Spectrum Disorder and Its Potential for Digitally Assisted Diagnostics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 52, 3718-3726. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-05194-3
Plank, I. S., Hindi Attar, C., Kunas, S. L., Dziobek, I., & Bermpohl, F. (2021). Increased activation in the bilateral anterior insulae in response to others in pain in mothers compared to non-mothers. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-02162-w
Plank, I. S., Hindi Attar, C., Kunas, S. L., Dziobek, I., & Bermpohl, F. (2021). Motherhood and theory of mind: increased activation in the posterior cingulate cortex and insulae. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 17(5), 470–481. https://doi.org/10.1093/scan/nsab109
Gowen, E., Crane, L., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2022). Editorial on Autism: Innovations and Future Directions in Psychological Research. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 832008. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.832008
Weber, S., Falter-Wagner*, C. M., & Stöttinger*, E. (2021). Brief Report: Typical Visual Updating in Autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51, 4711-4716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-021-04895-z. *equally contributing senior authors
Bloch, C., Burghof, L., Lehnhardt, F. G., Vogeley, K., & Falter-Wagner, C. (2021). Alexithymia traits outweigh autism traits in the explanation of depression in adults with autism. Scientific Reports, 11(1), 2258. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81696-5
Espelöer, J., Hellmich, M., Vogeley, K., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2021). Brief Report: Social Anxiety in Autism Spectrum Disorder is Based on Deficits in Social Competence. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 51, 315-322. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04529-w
Allenmark, F., Shi, Z., Pistorius, R. L., Theisinger, L. A., Koutsouleris, N., Falkai, P., Müller, H. J., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2021). Acquisition and Use of ‘Priors’ in Autism: Typical in Deciding Where to Look, Atypical in Deciding What Is There. Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 51(10), 3744-3758. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-020-04828-2
Arstila, V., Georgescu, A. L., Lunn, D., Noreika, V., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2020). Event Timing in Human Vision: Modulating Factors and Independent Functions. PLoS ONE, 15(8), e0226122. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226122
Gernert, C. C., Falkai, P., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2020). The Generalized Adaptation Account of Autism. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 14, 534218. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2020.534218
Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2020). Erhöhtes Risiko für Komorbiditäten bei Autismus. InFo Neurologie + Psychiatrie, 22 (3), 1-2.
Georgescu, A. L., Koeroglu, S., Hamilton, A., Vogeley, K., Falter-Wagner*, C. M., & Tschacher*, W. (2020). Testing the Interactional Heterogeneity Hypothesis of Autism: Do Individuals Spontaneously Synchronize with others during Conversations? Molecular Autism, 11, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-019-0305-1. *equally contributing senior authors
Vogel, D. H. V., Falter-Wagner, C. M., Krämer, K., Schoofs, T., Kupke, C., & Vogeley, K. (2020). Flow and Structure of Time Experience – Concept, Empirical Validation and Implications for Psychopathology. Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, 19, 325-258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11097-018-9573-z
Georgescu, A. L., Koehler, J. C., Weiske, J., Vogeley, K., Koutsouleris, N., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2019). Machine learning to study social interaction difficulties in ASD. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, section Human-Robot Interaction, 6(132), 1-7. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2019.00132
Brown, P., RELISH Consortium, & Zhou, Y. (2019). Large expert-curated database for benchmarking document similarity detection in biomedical literature search. Database, 1-67. https://doi.org/10.1093/database/baz085
Falter-Wagner, C. M., Vogeley, K., & Kraemer, K. (2019). Psycho- und Pharmakotherapie bei Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen im Erwachsenenalter. InFo Neurologie & Psychiatrie, 21 (11), 1-12.
Bloch, C., Vogeley, K., Georgescu, A. L., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2019). Intrapersonal synchrony as constituent of interpersonal synchrony and its relevance for autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Robotics and AI, section Human-Robot Interaction, 6(73), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.3389/frobt.2019.00073
Kuschefski, M., Falter-Wagner, C. M., Bente, G., Vogeley, K., & Georgescu, A. L. (2019). Inferring Power and Dominance from Dyadic Nonverbal Interactions in Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism Research, 12, 505–516. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2069
Vogel, D. H. V., Falter-Wagner, C. M., Krämer, K., Schoofs, T., Kupke, C., & Vogeley, K. (2019). Interrupted Time Experience in Autism Spectrum Disorder – Empirical Evidence from Content Analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49 (1), 22-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-018-3771-y
Intaite, M., Georgescu, A. L., Noreika, V., von Saldern, M. A. O., Vogeley, K., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2019). Adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) have atypical perception of ambiguous figures when bottom-up and top-down interactions are incongruous. Autism, 23 (5), 1133-1142. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318782221
Menassa, D., Braeutigam, S., Bailey, A. J., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2018). The neurophysiological correlates of perceptual simultaneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Neuroscience Letters, 665, 86-91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2017.11.045
Lambrechts*, A., Falter-Wagner*, C. M., & van Wassenhove, V. (2018). Diminished neural resources allocation to time processing in Autism Spectrum Disorders. NeuroImage: Clinical, 176, 124-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nicl.2017.09.023. *shared first authorship
Isaksson, S., Salomaeki, S., Tuominen, J., Arstila, V., Falter-Wagner*, C. M., & Noreika*, V. (2018). Generalised timing impairment in Autism Spectrum Disorders across time scales and paradigms. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 99, 111-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2018.01.017. *equally contributing senior authors
Rohde, M. S., Georgescu, A. L., Vogeley, K., Fimmers, R., & Falter-Wagner, C. M. (2018). Absence of Sex Differences in Mental Rotation Performance in ASD. Autism, 22 (7), 855-865. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361317714991
Lehnhard, F.-G., Falter, C. M., Gawronski, A., Volpert, K., Tepest, R., Franklin, J., & Vogeley, K. (2016). Sex-related cognitive profile in Autism Spectrum Disorders diagnosed late in life: implications for the female autistic phenotype. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46 (1), 139-154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-015-2558-7
Krämer, K., Falter, C. M., Gawronski, A., & Vogeley, K. (2016). Autismus-Spektrum-Störungen im Erwachsenenalter. In: S. Herpertz, F. Caspar, & K. Lieb (Eds.), Psychotherapie. Munich: Elsevier.
Krämer, K., Gawronski, A., Falter, C. M., & Vogeley, K. (2015). Die doppelte Unsichtbarkeit autistischer Störungen und ihre Herausforderungen für Therapeuten und Angehörige. Psychotherapeutenjournal, 3, 231-239.
Zapf, A. C., Glindemann, L. A., Vogeley, K., & Falter, C. M. (2015). Sex Differences and Autistic Superiority in Mental Rotation. PLoS ONE, 10 (4), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124628
Allman, M. J., & Falter, C. M. (2015). Timing Processes in Autism Spectrum Disorders. In: A. Vatakis, & M. J. Allman (Eds.), Time Distortions in Mind – Temporal Processing in Clinical Populations. Leiden, The Netherlands: Brill Academic Publishers.
Muth, A., Hohnekopp, J., & Falter, C. M. (2014). Visuo-Spatial Performance in Autism: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44, 3245-3263. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2188-5
Mueller, A. K., Berger, J., Tucha, O. M., & Falter, C. M. (2014). Selective Impairment of Timing Functions in Non-Clinical Impulsiveness. Timing & Time Perception, 2, 20-34. https://doi.org/10.1163/22134468-00002008
Falter, C. M., & Noreika, V. (2014). Time Processing in Developmental Disorders: A Comparative View. In: D. Lloyd, & V. Arstila (Eds.), Subjective Time: the philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience of temporality. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Noreika, V., Falter, C. M., & Wagner, T. M. (2014). Variability of duration perception: From natural and induced alterations to psychiatric disorders. In: D. Lloyd, & V. Arstila (Eds.), Subjective Time: the philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience of temporality. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Intaite, M., Noreika, V., Soliunas, A., & Falter, C. M. (2013). Interaction of bottom-up and top-down processes in the perception of ambiguous figures. Vision Research, 89, 24-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.visres.2013.06.011
Mueller, A. K., Falter, C. M., & Tucha, O. M. (2013). Distinct Attentional Mechanisms for Social Information Processing as Revealed by Event-related Potential Studies. International Journal of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, 2 (2),23-37. https://doi.org/10.5923/j.ijbcs.20130202.03
Falter, C. M., Braeutigam, S., Nathan, R., Carrington, S., & Bailey, A. (2013). Enhanced Access to Early Visual Processing of Perceptual Simultaneity in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43 (8), 1857-1866. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-012-1735-1
Falter, C. M. (2013). Impaired and superior mirror symmetry perception in autism. Autism, 17 (1), 117-118.https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361312438618
Noreika, V., Falter, C. M., & Rubia, K. (2013). Timing deficits in Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): Evidence from neurocognitive and neuroimaging studies. Neuropsychologia, 51, 235-266. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2012.09.036
Falter, C. M. & Bailey, A. (2012). Perception of Mirror Symmetry in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Autism, 16(6), 622-626. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361311407353
Falter, C. M., Elliott, M., & Bailey, A. (2012). Enhanced Visual Temporal Resolution in Autism Spectrum Disorders. PLoS ONE, 7 (3), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0032774
Noreika, V., Falter, C. M., Arstila, V., Wearden, J., & Kallio, S. (2012). Perception of short time scale intervals in a hypnotic virtuoso. The International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis, 60 (3), 318-337. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207144.2012.675296
Falter, C. M., Noreika, V., Wearden, J., & Bailey, A. J. (2012). More Consistent, yet Less Sensitive: Interval Timing in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology, 65 (11), 2093-2107.https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2012.690770
Falter, C. M., & Noreika, V. (2011). Interval timing deficits and abnormal cognitive development. Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, 5 (26), 1-2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnint.2011.00026
Falter, C. M., Plaisted Grant, K., & Davis, G. (2010). Object-based attention benefits reveal selective abnormalities of visual integration in autism. Autism Research, 3 (3), 128-136. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.134
Seifert, D., Falter, C. M., Strasburger, H., & Elliott, M. A. (2010). Bandpass Characteristics of High-Frequency Sensitivity and Visual Experience in Blindsight. Consciousness and Cognition, 19 (1), 144-151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2010.01.005
Falter, C. M., Noreika, V., Kiverstein, J., & Moelder, B. (2009). Concrete Magnitudes: From Numbers to Time. Open Peer Commentary. Behavioural and Brain Sciences, 32 (3-4), 335-336. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X09990045
Falter, C. M., Plaisted, K., & Davis, G. (2008). Male Brains, Androgen, and the Cognitive Profile in Autism: Convergent Evidence from 2D:4D and Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia. Response. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38 (5), 997-998. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0552-z
Falter, C. M., Plaisted, K., & Davis, G. (2008). Visuo-spatial Processing in Autism – Testing the Predictions of Extreme Male Brain Theory. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38 (3), 507-515. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-007-0419-8
Falter, C. M., Arroyo, M., & Davis, G. J. (2006). Testosterone: Activation or organization of spatial cognition? Biological Psychology, 73, 132-140. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsycho.2006.01.011
