/sci/ - Science & Math

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Study from Cambridge University:

New research which tested nearly 500,000 people for autism traits and compared it to their jobs found those in involved in STEM professions (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) have more autistic traits.

The University of Cambridge has developed a way of measuring these, using a questionnaire called the Autism Spectrum Quotient, or AQ which comprises 50 questions, each one representing one autistic trait.
They found that people working in a STEM-related job had an average AQ score of 21.9 compared to a score of 18.9 for individuals working in non-STEM jobs. Previously Cambridge University has suggested that Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were both autistic.

The study also backed up previous findings showing that men are more likely to be higher on the autism spectrum than women.
Professor Simon Baron-Cohen at the Autism Research Centre at the University of Cambridge said:
“Previous studies have found the number of autistic traits a person has is influenced by both genetic factors and prenatal testosterone levels.

“These may shed light on why we find males in the population on average have slightly more autistic traits than females do, and why fathers and grandfathers of children with autism are over-represented in STEM fields.”

>Source
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/science-news/11973110/Scientists-and-mathematicians-test-higher-on-autism-spectrum-says-Cambridge-University.html