Laurent Mottron Laboratory

My research group explores how autistic people process information from early development through adulthood. We are therefore interested in describing the perceptual, memory and reasoning mechanisms by which autistic people perceive the world, construct representations and manipulate them. Our ultimate goal is to facilitate the integration of autistic people into society whatever their age, whilst respecting their differences.

April 2025

Harnessing artificial intelligence and clinical data to redefine autism diagnosis

Health professionals still rely mainly on the asocial nature of children to diagnose autism. Our researchers Emmett Rabot and Laurent Mottron are co-authors of a new article published in the journal Cell, which proposes a revision of the criteria currently used. This reflection comes at a time when artificial intelligence, in collaboration with clinicians, is paving the way for a reassessment of practices.
The article suggests exploiting clinical data to validate the accuracy of diagnostic criteria established by specialists and based on human judgment. Specifically, the researchers analyzed over 4,200 clinical reports using large language models to identify key phrases associated with a positive diagnosis of autism.
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November 2024

Dr. Laurent Mottron receives the Prix Léo-Pariseau from ACFAS

The Prix Acfas Léo-Pariseau is awarded in recognition of the excellence and influence of his work in the field of health. Laurent Mottron also received this year's Prix d'excellence from the Collège des médecins du Québec.

Interview with Laurent Mottron
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September 2024

Since autism is not a disease, what is it?

Publication of a new book by Laurent Mottron, éditions Mardaga, 18 sept 2024. Italian, Brazilian and Chinese translations in progress.
Reviews: Association Française pour l'Information Scientifique
https://www.afis.org/Si-l-autisme-n-est-pas-une-maladie-qu-est-ce
Lien to book

June 2024

Increased interest in letters and numbers in preschoolers with autism

A new study reveals that children with autism show an exceptional interest in letters and numbers. This is often overlooked because of their preference for solitary activities. A study of 700 children by Alexia Ostrolenk of Dr. Mottron's research group.

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This website features the work of autistic artists!

Drawings by Denis Boudouard (EC in the scientific literature)

EC was an autistic man who passed away in the 1990s, and possessed the ability to draw inanimate objects in 3D. His drawings were almost always done on A4 paper using black fine felt-tip or ballpoint pens, with little color. Without using a ruler, or ever needing to touch up his work, EC was able to trace perfect lines, circles and ellipses. He was also able to draw an object as it rotated through space, without needing to manipulate or walk around the object. Motors, explosions and angry women were recurrent themes in EC’s work. A project looking into his exceptional skills (Mottron & Belleville, 1993, 1995) lay the groundwork for models of perceptual “overfunctioning” in autism.

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