title: Cradling bias is absent in children with autism spectrum disorders.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated relations among empathy and cradling bias in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty children with ASDs and 20 typically developing (TD) children, aged 5-15 years old, cradled a doll as if it were an infant s/he was putting to sleep on three separate occasions. We recorded side preference on each occasion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with ASDs showed no preference for cradling side whereas TD children showed a strong left-sided preference. To the best of our knowledge, children with ASDs are the only population that does not exhibit cradling bias.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An absence of cradling bias and empathy deficits in ASD may be related. If so, these data support the hypothesis that leftward cradling is a characteristic of enhanced quality of caregiver-infant interaction and bonding.
authors: a Applied Cognitive Science and Experimental Neuropsychology Team Laboratory (ACSENT Laboratory), Department of Psychology , University of Cape Town , Cape Town , South Africa.
authors: Lea-Ann
authors: LA
authors: Pileggi
authors: Susan
authors: S
authors: Malcolm-Smith
authors: Michelle
authors: M
authors: Hoogenhout
authors: Kevin Gf
authors: KG
authors: Thomas
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Solms