Freeth, Megan, Professor

Qualifications

PhD (University of Nottingham)
MSc (University of Nottingham)
BSc (University of Birmingham)

Research interests

Title: Reducing the societal barriers experienced by autistic people

Autistic people experience a broad range of challenges in their day to day lives. Via co-produced research, I aim to improve understanding of the lived experience of being autistic and to conduct research that tackles the barriers that stand in the way of optimal outcomes. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis I aim to facilitate understanding of the lived experiences of being autistic. Via research with a focus on health services I aim to improve provision for autistic people. Via research on employment, I aim to reduce employment challenges faced by autistic people.

Title: The expression of autism in rare genetic syndromes

Autism is an extremely heterogeneous condition. Some of this variability results from genetic heterogeneity. Some rare genetic conditions appear to have an increased prevalence of autism. I am currently investigating the phenotype of growth disorders with a known genetic cause, such as Sotos syndrome, Russell-Silver syndrome, Tatton-Brown Rahman syndrome, 16p11.2 duplication and deletion, SOX11 syndrome and MYT1L syndrome with the aim of improving understanding of both rare genetic conditions and autism.

Title: Social attention in the real world

I am interested in how people attend to the world around them. What grabs attention, and what impact does this have on other aspects of cognition? If we miss key information from our visual environments then our internal construct of the world will be less than optimal. My main interest lies in how people attend to others and use the verbal and non-verbal social cues they generate. I am interested in both how typically developing people attend to this information and how individuals with clinical and sub-clinical traits, such as autism and social anxiety, attend to this information. I use mobile and laboratory based eye-tracking technology to try to understand what guides attention.

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Featured publications

Journal articles

Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2024) . Autism, 13623613241235531.
Bölte S, Alehagen L, Black MH, Hasslinger J, Wessman E, Lundin Remnélius K, Marschik PB, D’Arcy E, Crowson S, Freeth M , Seidel A et al (2024) . Autism, 13623613241228896.
Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2023) . Autism.
Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Smith H, McNeill A & Freeth M (2023) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 143.
Smith H, Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Freeth M, Fricke S, Matthews D & McNeill A (2023) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
Crowson S, Poole D, Scargill K & Freeth M (2023) . Autism.
Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2023) . Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(6), 768-778.
Wilson RB, Thompson AR, Rowse G & Freeth M (2023) . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 103.
Freeth M & Morgan EJ (2023) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 378(1875).
Dugdale A-S, Thompson AR, Leedham A, Beail N & Freeth M (2021) . Autism.
Freeth M, Morgan E, Bugembe P & Brown A (2020) . Autism, 24(6), 1482-1493.
McNeill A, Lewis R & Freeth M (2020) . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
Leedham AT, Thompson AR & Freeth M (2020) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 97.
Lane C, Robinson L & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
Simpson J, Thwaites K & Freeth M (2019) . Sustainability, 11(15).
Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Neuropsychology, 13(2), 240-252.
Freeth M, Leedham A & Thompson A (2019) . Autism.
Kelly C, Morgan G, Freeth M, Siegal M & Matthews D (2019) . The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.
Lane C, Van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
Lane C, Van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2018) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Simpson JC, Freeth M, Simpson K & Thwaites K (2018) . Journal of Urbanism: international research on placemaking and urban sustainability, 12(3), 259-278.
Treweek C, Wood C, Martin J & Freeth M (2018) . Autism: the international journal of research and practice.
Morgan E, Freeth M & Smith DT (2018) . Vision, 2(1).
Freeth M & Bugembe P (2018) . Autism.
Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2017) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(1), 135-143.
Wood C & Freeth M (2016) . Journal of Educational Issues, 2(2), 131-140.
Dunn SA, Freeth M & Milne E (2016) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(6), 2199-2210.
Heaton TJ & Freeth M (2016) . Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 125(3), 399-411.
Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2016) . PLoS ONE, 11(2).
Freeth M & Vabalas A (2016) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(1), 305-314.
Freeth M, Sheppard E, Ramachandran R & Milne E (2013) . J Autism Dev Disord, 43(11), 2569-2583.
Milne E, Dunn SA, Freeth M & Rosas-Martinez L (2013) . Neuropsychologia, 51(6), 1109-1118.
Freeth M, Foulsham T & Kingstone A (2013) . PLoS One, 8(1), e53286.
Freeth M, Bullock T & Milne E (2013) . Autism, 17(5), 571-581.
Risko EF, Laidlaw K, Freeth M, Foulsham T & Kingstone A (2012) . Front Hum Neurosci, 6, 143.
Freeth M, Foulsham T & Chapman P (2011) . Neuropsychologia, 49, 156-160.
Freeth M, Ropar D, Mitchell P, Chapman P & Loher S (2011) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(3), 364-371.
Freeth M, Chapman P, Ropar D & Mitchell P (2010) . J Autism Dev Disord, 40(5), 534-547.
Freeth M, Ropar D, Chapman P & Mitchell P (2010) . J Exp Child Psychol, 105(1-2), 20-37.
Beck SR, Robinson EJ & Freeth MM (2008) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 99(4), 252-270.
Lopez B, Gregory NJ & Freeth M () . Autism.
Morgan EJ, Foulsham T & Freeth M () . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Chapters

Lane C & Freeth M (2019) , Chromatin Signaling and Neurological Disorders (pp. 219-234). Elsevier

Conference proceedings papers

Freeth M & Vablas A (2015) Temporal dynamics of social attention in face-to-face situations. PERCEPTION, Vol. 44 (pp 78-79)
Dunn S, Freeth M & Milne E (2015) ERP evidence of reduced spatial selectivity in those with high levels of self-reported autistic traits. PERCEPTION, Vol. 44 (pp 294-295)

All publications

Journal articles

Day M, Wood C, Corker E & Freeth M (2024) . Autism, 13623613241301493.
Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2024) . Autism, 13623613241235531.
Bölte S, Alehagen L, Black MH, Hasslinger J, Wessman E, Lundin Remnélius K, Marschik PB, D’Arcy E, Crowson S, Freeth M , Seidel A et al (2024) . Autism, 13623613241228896.
Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2023) . Autism.
Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Smith H, McNeill A & Freeth M (2023) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 143.
Smith H, Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Freeth M, Fricke S, Matthews D & McNeill A (2023) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
Crowson S, Poole D, Scargill K & Freeth M (2023) . Autism.
Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2023) . Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(6), 768-778.
Wilson RB, Thompson AR, Rowse G & Freeth M (2023) . Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 103.
Freeth M & Morgan EJ (2023) . Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 378(1875).
Smith H, Lane C, Al‐Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2022) . Autism Research.
Morgan EJ, Carroll DJ, Chow CKC & Freeth M (2022) . Cognitive Science, 46(4).
Al-Jawahiri R, Foroutan A, Kerkhof J, McConkey H, Levy M, Haghshenas S, Rooney K, Turner J, Shears D, Holder M , Lefroy H et al (2022) . Genetics in Medicine, 24(6), 1261-1273.
Simpson J, Freeth M, Simpson KJ & Thwaites K (2022) . Environment and Planning B: Urban Analytics and City Science.
Giannadou A, Jones M, Freeth M, Samson AC & Milne E (2022) . Psychophysiology, 59(4).
Morgan EJ, Smith DT & Freeth M (2021) . Attention, Perception, and Psychophysics.
Freeth M, Al-Jawahiri R, Smith H & Stokes L (2021) . European Journal of Human Genetics, 29(8), 1166-1167.
Dugdale A-S, Thompson AR, Leedham A, Beail N & Freeth M (2021) . Autism.
Freeth M, Morgan E, Bugembe P & Brown A (2020) . Autism, 24(6), 1482-1493.
McNeill A, Lewis R & Freeth M (2020) . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A.
Leedham AT, Thompson AR & Freeth M (2020) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 97.
Lane C, Tatton-Brown K & Freeth M (2019) . Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Lane C, Robinson L & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Abnormal Psychology.
Simpson J, Thwaites K & Freeth M (2019) . Sustainability, 11(15).
Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Neuropsychology, 13(2), 240-252.
Freeth M, Leedham A & Thompson A (2019) . Autism.
Kelly C, Morgan G, Freeth M, Siegal M & Matthews D (2019) . The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education.
Lane C, Van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
Lane C, Van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2018) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Simpson JC, Freeth M, Simpson K & Thwaites K (2018) . Journal of Urbanism: international research on placemaking and urban sustainability, 12(3), 259-278.
Treweek C, Wood C, Martin J & Freeth M (2018) . Autism: the international journal of research and practice.
Morgan E, Freeth M & Smith DT (2018) . Vision, 2(1).
Freeth M & Bugembe P (2018) . Autism.
Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2017) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 47(1), 135-143.
Wood C & Freeth M (2016) . Journal of Educational Issues, 2(2), 131-140.
Dunn SA, Freeth M & Milne E (2016) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(6), 2199-2210.
Heaton TJ & Freeth M (2016) . Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 125(3), 399-411.
Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2016) . PLoS ONE, 11(2).
Freeth M & Vabalas A (2016) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 46(1), 305-314.
Freeth M, Sheppard E, Ramachandran R & Milne E (2013) . J Autism Dev Disord, 43(11), 2569-2583.
Milne E, Dunn SA, Freeth M & Rosas-Martinez L (2013) . Neuropsychologia, 51(6), 1109-1118.
Freeth M, Foulsham T & Kingstone A (2013) . PLoS One, 8(1), e53286.
Freeth M, Bullock T & Milne E (2013) . Autism, 17(5), 571-581.
Risko EF, Laidlaw K, Freeth M, Foulsham T & Kingstone A (2012) . Front Hum Neurosci, 6, 143.
Freeth M, Foulsham T & Chapman P (2011) . Neuropsychologia, 49, 156-160.
Freeth M, Ropar D, Mitchell P, Chapman P & Loher S (2011) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 41(3), 364-371.
Freeth M, Chapman P, Ropar D & Mitchell P (2010) . J Autism Dev Disord, 40(5), 534-547.
Freeth M, Ropar D, Chapman P & Mitchell P (2010) . J Exp Child Psychol, 105(1-2), 20-37.
Beck SR, Robinson EJ & Freeth MM (2008) . Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 99(4), 252-270.
Grahame C, Thompson AR & Freeth M () . Autism in Adulthood.
Freeth M, Smethurst L & Thompson A () “I’ve Absolutely Reached Rock Bottom and Have No Energy”: The Lived Experience of Unemployed and Underemployed Autistic Adults. Autism in Adulthood.
Lopez B, Gregory NJ & Freeth M () . Autism.
Wilson RB, Thompson AR, Rowse G, Smith R, Dugdale A-S & Freeth M () . Autism, 136236132211367-136236132211367.
Morgan EJ, Foulsham T & Freeth M () . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

Chapters

Lane C & Freeth M (2019) , Chromatin Signaling and Neurological Disorders (pp. 219-234). Elsevier
Freeth M & Lane C (2019) Sotos syndrome In Binda O (Ed.), Chromatin Signaling and Neurological Disorders
Lane C & Freeth M (2017) , Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 1-5). Springer New York
Freeth M, Milne E, Sheppard E & Ramachandran R () John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Conference proceedings papers

Mcneill A & Freeth M (2020) Views of adults with 22q11 deletion syndrome on reproductive medicine options. EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS, Vol. 28(SUPPL 1) (pp 1009-1009)
Freeth M & Vablas A (2015) Temporal dynamics of social attention in face-to-face situations. PERCEPTION, Vol. 44 (pp 78-79)
Dunn S, Freeth M & Milne E (2015) ERP evidence of reduced spatial selectivity in those with high levels of self-reported autistic traits. PERCEPTION, Vol. 44 (pp 294-295)

Preprints

Crowson S, Poole D & Freeth M (2022) , Center for Open Science.
Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2022) , PsyArXiv.
Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M () , Center for Open Science.

Research group

Neuroscience and Cognition

Psychological Health

Current postdoctoral researchers

Dr Chloe Lane - Sensory profiles in genetic conditions associated with autism

Current research supervision

PhD primary supervisor - Nazli Altin
PhD co-supervisor - Aikaterini Giannadou; Louise Stokes; Jiayi Chen
DClin supervisor - Rosie Wilson

Previous research supervision

PhD primary supervisor - Chloe Lane; Caroline Treweek; Emma Morgan
PhD co-supervisor - James Simpson; Ciara Kelly; Keelan Meade; Tom Hostler; Stephanie Dunn
DClin supervisor - Alex Leedham; Amber-Sophie Dugdale

Grants

NIHR RfPB (October 2024 - April 2026) Evaluating a Standardised Post-diagnostic Strengths and Needs Assessment for Autistic Adults: an Acceptability and Feasibility Study (PI) £249,883
Colt Foundation (May 2023 - November 2024) Understanding and Tackling the Barriers to Employment Experienced by Autistic Adults (PI) £80,953
SBRI Healthcare (November 2022 - May 2023) Co-development of Personalised Support Profiles for Autistic Adults using ICF CoreSets for Autism (PI) £99,972
Baily Thomas (August 2022 - February 2024) Communication Profile of Genomic Disorders (co-I) £58,423
Screen Industries Growth Network (June 2021 - September 2023) A3i Accessible Audio for Autism (co-I) £75,000
Baily Thomas research grant (January 2021 – July 2022) The impact of impaired neurogenesis on cognition, behaviour and brain activity £55,574.00
The Children's Hospital Charity (��«Ӱҵ Children's Hospital) and ��«Ӱҵ (May 2019 - October 2020). Sensory profiles in genetic syndromes associated with autism £32,112
Baily Thomas research grant (July 2017 - April 2019). Cognition and Behaviour in Weaver syndrome and Tatton-Brown Rahman syndrome £53,718
Child Growth Foundation (September 2017 - August 2018). Characteristics of Autism in Russell-Silver Syndrome £8,370
Baily Thomas research grant (Dec 2016 - Nov 2017). Why do individuals with Sotos syndrome struggle with maths? £4,707
Experimental Psychology Society Small Grant (April 2015- April 2016). Face to Face Social Attention in Autism. £2,500
Experimental Psychology Society Small Grant (Jan 2013-Jan2014). Gaze following and the broad autism phenotype. £2,500
Leverhulme Early Career Fellowship (Mar 2011-Mar 2013). Social Attention in Autism. £177,351
NCRM Training bursary – to attend EEGlab workshop, San Diego (Nov 2010). £985
Wellcome Trust Value in People award (Oct 2010-Mar 2011). £15,000
ESRC Post Doctoral Fellowship (Sept 2009-Sept 2010). Social Cognition in Typically Developing Individuals and those with Autism Spectrum Disorders using EEG and Eye-tracking Techniques. £72,426

Teaching activities

PSY345 Conditions affecting Cognition and Behaviour Across the Lifespan (Module Organiser)
PSY1002 Cognitive Psychology I
PSY2002 Cognitive Psychology II
PSY331 Extended essay supervisor
PSY346 Project supervisor
DClin supervision
MSc supervision

Professional activities and memberships

Media Engagement:

The Eyes Have it All Elements (science) article featuring my work
Improving public perceptions of autism - Your Autism Magazine Spring 2016 (National Autistic Society)

PhD Opportunities

I am happy to receive applications for PhD study in my area of research.

We advertise PhD opportunities (Funded or Self-Funded) on

For further information, please see the department PhD Opportunities page.

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School of Psychology

School of Psychology

Professor Megan Freeth

Featured publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Neuroscience and Cognition

Psychological Health

Current postdoctoral researchers

Current research supervision

Previous research supervision

��«Ӱҵ

School of Psychology

School of Psychology

Professor Megan Freeth

Featured publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

All publications

Journal articles

Chapters

Conference proceedings papers

Preprints

Neuroscience and Cognition

Psychological Health

Current postdoctoral researchers

Current research supervision

Previous research supervision

Links