Connor Keating

I am an experimental psychologist pursuing three main streams of research:

 (1) Improving screening for autism and enabling personalised, strengths-based support 

In prior work, we systematically compared the facial and bodily movements of autistic and non-autistic adults, identifying patterns that reliably distinguish between the two groups. Building on this, we are now using a multi-stakeholder co-production approach to develop smartphone-based methods for examining arm and facial movements in children on NHS waiting lists, with the long-term goal of improving early screening. In parallel, we are working to incorporate strengths- and needs-based assessments into these tools, which will ultimately support the delivery of personalised pre-diagnostic support.

(2) Addressing issues of diversity, equity & inclusion in autism research

I am Co-Founder and Co-Director of the U21 Autism Research Network - a network of autistic and non-autistic researchers across 19 countries aiming to tackle issues regarding diversity and inclusion in autism research. In our current work, we aim to determine the research priorities of a diverse range of autism community members across the globe. By doing so, we hope to ensure that future research is tailored to, and has a meaningful benefit for, the autism communities it aims to serve. 

(3) Developing mechanistic models of emotion-processing

To date, we have constructed mechanistic models linking the conceptualisation, experience, visualization, expression, and recognition of emotion in both autistic and non-autistic people. Going forward, I aim to interrogate these links through studies involving causal manipulation and/or longitudinal designs. This work will enable us to understand the mechanisms underpinning emotion recognition challenges for both autistic and non-autistic individuals. 

Find my Google Scholar page here.