About the Exhibition

Research is a journey we take together. As the infants in our earliest studies have grown, our research has matured alongside them. The field is shifting from a purely clinical perspective into a collaborative partnership, and throughout this exhibition, you will find our data presented side-by-side with personal stories and artwork created by the families.

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We recently asked families about their current experiences of living in a neurodiverse family through our BASIS-CANVAS project. We display these stories alongside a history of evolving research to trace the shift from early studies on "face processing" and the "social brain" to modern frameworks of sensory processing and individual trajectories. By bringing together lived experiences with objective techniques, we can start to map the complex pathways that define each child’s unique journey. The exhibition follows this journey through the following themes:

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Family experiences

These personal reflections provide a vital window into the reality of neurodivergent life, grounding our data in human experience.

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The Evolution of Research

How has our understanding of early autism development evolved over the last 20 years? ​This exhibition showcases some key findings from the longitudinal British Autism Study of Infant Siblings (BASIS), and other collaborating studies, tracing the journey of participants from their first weeks of life through to adolescence.

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Tools of Discovery

We display various techniques we use to measure attention (eye-tracking), brain responses (fNIRS & EEG) and stress levels (heart rate & skin conductance). These measures can provide insight into early indicators in infancy, before autism traits typically emerge from the age of 2 onwards. Through this work, we aim to better understand each child's path to ultimately provide earlier and more personalised care.

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Come and explore!

We invite you to not only observe but to participate. Throughout the gallery, you will find art installations where you can add your own reflections and experiences.