Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) usually have trouble interpreting facial emotions, but a new study finds that some autistic kids are just as “in-tune” with their mother’s expressions as kids without ASD. In the study, researchers had young children with and without ASD view five facial expressions of both familiar and unfamiliar faces. The researchers observed that boys and girls without autism were better able to read strangers’ expressions, especially negative emotions such as fear and sadness. However, children with high-functioning autism read the emotions on their mother’s faces just as well as kids without the condition. Based on the findings, the study’s authors recommend future large-scale studies to determine if this effect also applies to expressions from other familiar individuals, such as fathers, siblings, and classmates. Child Psychiatry & Human Development, March 2019