Encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony Benefits Children with Autism.

Carolyn  Galbraith; Marion Sturges; Tonia Gray

Encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony Benefits Children with Autism.

Carolyn Galbraith
, Marion Sturges
, Tonia Gray

School of Education

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Purpose of Review
This thematic review examined the existing literature on the benefits of encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony (IMS) in children with autism.
Recent Findings
15 quantitative studies from four databases met inclusion criteria. Three major themes were identified from these papers. Firstly, children with autism enjoy being in synchrony; secondly, children with autism can synchronise when the activity is familiar and supported; and thirdly, IMS skills are associated with social communication skills.
Summary
Effective synchrony is observed to be more challenging for certain clinical populations, including children with autism. If IMS is associated with positive feelings towards other people and an increased feeling of connection, it may then motivate children with autism to respond more frequently to others. The themes identified in the literature suggest that encouraging children with autism to synchronise with others may be a productive intervention goal.

Original language	English
Journal	Current Developmental Disorders Reports
Volume	13
Issue number	5
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education

Keywords

children with autism spectrum disorders
Interpersonal motor synchrony
Synchrony
Autism

Cite this

@article{84713ecb38c948c5a056df27efd7a069,

title = "Encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony Benefits Children with Autism.",

abstract = "Purpose of Review This thematic review examined the existing literature on the benefits of encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony (IMS) in children with autism. Recent Findings 15 quantitative studies from four databases met inclusion criteria. Three major themes were identified from these papers. Firstly, children with autism enjoy being in synchrony; secondly, children with autism can synchronise when the activity is familiar and supported; and thirdly, IMS skills are associated with social communication skills. Summary Effective synchrony is observed to be more challenging for certain clinical populations, including children with autism. If IMS is associated with positive feelings towards other people and an increased feeling of connection, it may then motivate children with autism to respond more frequently to others. The themes identified in the literature suggest that encouraging children with autism to synchronise with others may be a productive intervention goal.",

keywords = "children with autism spectrum disorders, Interpersonal motor synchrony, Synchrony, Autism",

author = "Carolyn Galbraith and Marion Sturges and Tonia Gray",

year = "2026",

month = apr,

day = "1",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

journal = "Current Developmental Disorders Reports",

issn = "2196-2987",

publisher = "Springer International Publishing",

number = "5",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony Benefits Children with Autism.

AU - Galbraith, Carolyn

AU - Sturges, Marion

AU - Gray, Tonia

PY - 2026/4/1

Y1 - 2026/4/1

N2 - Purpose of Review This thematic review examined the existing literature on the benefits of encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony (IMS) in children with autism. Recent Findings 15 quantitative studies from four databases met inclusion criteria. Three major themes were identified from these papers. Firstly, children with autism enjoy being in synchrony; secondly, children with autism can synchronise when the activity is familiar and supported; and thirdly, IMS skills are associated with social communication skills. Summary Effective synchrony is observed to be more challenging for certain clinical populations, including children with autism. If IMS is associated with positive feelings towards other people and an increased feeling of connection, it may then motivate children with autism to respond more frequently to others. The themes identified in the literature suggest that encouraging children with autism to synchronise with others may be a productive intervention goal.

AB - Purpose of Review This thematic review examined the existing literature on the benefits of encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony (IMS) in children with autism. Recent Findings 15 quantitative studies from four databases met inclusion criteria. Three major themes were identified from these papers. Firstly, children with autism enjoy being in synchrony; secondly, children with autism can synchronise when the activity is familiar and supported; and thirdly, IMS skills are associated with social communication skills. Summary Effective synchrony is observed to be more challenging for certain clinical populations, including children with autism. If IMS is associated with positive feelings towards other people and an increased feeling of connection, it may then motivate children with autism to respond more frequently to others. The themes identified in the literature suggest that encouraging children with autism to synchronise with others may be a productive intervention goal.

KW - children with autism spectrum disorders

KW - Interpersonal motor synchrony

KW - Synchrony

KW - Autism

UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-026-00350-9

M3 - Article

SN - 2196-2987

VL - 13

JO - Current Developmental Disorders Reports

JF - Current Developmental Disorders Reports

IS - 5

ER -

Encouraging Interpersonal Motor Synchrony Benefits Children with Autism.

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this