Clinical trials data
Cognitive tests in autism trials: 200 registered studies
Every registered autism study on ClinicalTrials.gov that names a cognitive test in an outcome measure: the tests used most, how often as a primary outcome, which tests go together, how large the studies are and when they measure the outcome.
- Registered autism studies name a cognitive test in an outcome
- 200
- Led by industry
- 10
The tests autism trials use most
The Vocabulary Test leads: 21 of the 200 studies name it, 11%. Next comes Emoji Emotion Recognition (19). As a primary outcome, the Vocabulary Test leads with 7 studies.
- 1
Vocabulary Test21 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
- 2
Emoji Emotion Recognition19 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
- 3
Stroop Color-Word Test19 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
- 4
Go/No-Go Task17 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
- 5
Continuous Performance Test17 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
- 6
Trail Making Test17 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
- 7
Card Sorting Test (Berg)17 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- 8
Biological Motion Task15 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 9
Verbal Fluency14 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
- 10
Matrix Reasoning14 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- 11
Dimensional Change Card Sort13 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 12
Eriksen Flanker Task12 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
- 13
Stop-Signal Task9 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- 14
Digit Span Test8 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- 15
Tower Planning7 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
- 16
Task Switching Test7 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 17
N-Back Task5 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
- 18
Verbal Learning5 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 19
Corsi Block-Tapping Test4 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- 20
Intra/Extra Dimensional Set Shift4 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 21
Animated Shapes Task4 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
- 22
Mental State Stories Task4 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
- 23
Ball-Toss Game3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 24
Indirect Hints Task3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- 25
Picture Naming Test3 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes
7% of autism studies name only instruments outside the library, such as clinician-administered screening scales. They count in every figure on this page and are not listed. The explorer below holds all 74 tests.
Tests used together
- Stroop Color-Word Test and Trail Making Test7 studies name both
- Card Sorting Test (Berg) and Matrix Reasoning6 studies name both
- Biological Motion Task and Card Sorting Test (Berg)5 studies name both
- Biological Motion Task and Matrix Reasoning5 studies name both
- Digit Span Test and Trail Making Test5 studies name both
- Go/No-Go Task and Stroop Color-Word Test5 studies name both
- Go/No-Go Task and Trail Making Test5 studies name both
- Card Sorting Test (Berg) and Stroop Color-Word Test4 studies name both
- Digit Span Test and Stroop Color-Word Test4 studies name both
- Card Sorting Test (Berg) and Trail Making Test3 studies name both
Studies by start year
A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes
Show as a table
| Start year | Studies | A test as a primary outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 1 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 | 1 |
| 2014 | 9 | 4 |
| 2015 | 13 | 7 |
| 2016 | 15 | 5 |
| 2017 | 6 | 3 |
| 2018 | 10 | 5 |
| 2019 | 10 | 3 |
| 2020 | 9 | 5 |
| 2021 | 13 | 8 |
| 2022 | 17 | 6 |
| 2023 | 21 | 6 |
| 2024 | 25 | 7 |
| 2025 | 19 | 8 |
| 2026 | 16 | 6 |
Phases and sponsors
By phase
- Early phase 11 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
- Phase 17 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- Phase 1/26 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- Phase 221 studies, 7 as a primary outcome
- Phase 2/35 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Phase 31 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Phase 42 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Not applicable136 studies, 59 as a primary outcome
- Observational21 studies, 10 as a primary outcome
Sponsors and study types
Lead sponsor: industry 10, NIH 0, universities, hospitals and others 190. Interventional 179, observational 21.
Status, results, interventions and countries
Status
- Recruiting46 studies, 13 as a primary outcome
- Not yet recruiting12 studies, 6 as a primary outcome
- Active, not recruiting7 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- Completed98 studies, 46 as a primary outcome
- Stopped early8 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
- Status unknown29 studies, 12 as a primary outcome
What they test
- Behavioral70 studies, 36 as a primary outcome
- Drug36 studies, 14 as a primary outcome
- Device47 studies, 15 as a primary outcome
- Dietary supplement8 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- Procedure7 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
- Diagnostic test3 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
- Biological4 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Other47 studies, 16 as a primary outcome
- None given10 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
Intervention types as registered. A study can list several; observational studies often list none.
Where their sites are
- United States79 studies, 37 as a primary outcome
- Taiwan22 studies, 5 as a primary outcome
- France15 studies, 4 as a primary outcome
- Hong Kong13 studies, 8 as a primary outcome
- China9 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- United Kingdom7 studies, 3 as a primary outcome
- Canada5 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- South Korea5 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Denmark4 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Pakistan4 studies, 2 as a primary outcome
- Italy3 studies, 1 as a primary outcome
- Norway3 studies, 0 as a primary outcome
29 countries in all. A study with sites in several counts in each; 11 list no site.
Reported results
Completed studies with results posted on ClinicalTrials.gov, a results paper the registry links to the study, or both.
Completed autism studies: 50 of 98, 51%
Every completed study with a cognitive outcome: 3,626 of 7,953, 46%
| Results | Completed autism studies | Every completed study |
|---|---|---|
| Results on ClinicalTrials.gov and a paper | 11, 11% | 776, 10% |
| Results on ClinicalTrials.gov only | 21, 21% | 1,139, 14% |
| A results paper only | 18, 18% | 1,711, 22% |
| Neither | 48, 49% | 4,327, 54% |
How many participants they enroll
- Phase 246 median, 29 to 74
- Not applicable60 median, 40 to 105
- Observational126 median, 40 to 389
Show as a table
| Phase | Studies with a size | Median | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 2 | 20 | 46 | 29 to 74 |
| Not applicable | 133 | 60 | 40 to 105 |
| Observational | 21 | 126 | 40 to 389 |
When the cognitive outcome is measured
Latest time point of each outcome
- Within a day50 outcomes, 23 as a primary outcome
- Up to 4 weeks63 outcomes, 17 as a primary outcome
- 1 to 3 months108 outcomes, 32 as a primary outcome
- 3 to 6 months50 outcomes, 23 as a primary outcome
- 6 to 12 months19 outcomes, 6 as a primary outcome
- 1 to 2 years8 outcomes, 6 as a primary outcome
- Over 2 years4 outcomes, 0 as a primary outcome
- No duration given19 outcomes, 12 as a primary outcome
A test as a primary outcomeOnly in secondary or other outcomes
302 of the 321 outcome measures give a duration. A single visit counts as within a day.
Explore the autism studies
185 studies match. 77 name a library test in a primary outcome. Median size 60 participants. Median time to the primary outcome: 8 weeks.
Loading 185 studies; the filters turn on when they arrive.
2026 is partly planned starts. Not shown: 1 that started before 2000.
Show as a table
| Start year | Studies | As a primary outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 |
| 2004 | 0 | 0 |
| 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 3 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 | 3 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 6 | 3 |
| 2015 | 13 | 7 |
| 2016 | 14 | 4 |
| 2017 | 5 | 2 |
| 2018 | 9 | 5 |
| 2019 | 9 | 3 |
| 2020 | 9 | 5 |
| 2021 | 13 | 8 |
| 2022 | 16 | 5 |
| 2023 | 19 | 6 |
| 2024 | 25 | 7 |
| 2025 | 19 | 8 |
| 2026 | 15 | 6 |
Library tests named most
Conditions
Phases
Participants
Lead sponsor: industry 9, other 176. Interventional 166, observational 19.
As a primary outcomeSecondary or other outcome
The studies, newest registration first
Each number opens the study's record on ClinicalTrials.gov.
| Study | Start | Phase | Conditions | Participants | Lead sponsor | Status | Library tests named, with the latest time point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07881016 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosis, Depression and bipolar disorder, Autism | Participants3,000 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07801833 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants40 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusActive, not recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07789457 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants105 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07770451 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants20 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07720427 | Start2023 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants30 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusCompleted | Library tests named
|
| NCT07716072 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsADHD, Autism | Participants120 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07630506 | Start2025 | PhasePhase 2 | ConditionsAutism | Participants184 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07630298 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants22 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07590973 | Start2025 | PhaseObservational | ConditionsAutism | Participants1,000 | Lead sponsorIndustry | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07579494 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants60 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07555132 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants40 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07546942 | Start2026 | PhasePhase 1/2 | ConditionsAutism | Participants50 | Lead sponsorIndustry | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07515261 | Start2023 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants22 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusCompleted | Library tests named
|
| NCT07506070 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsSchizophrenia and psychosis, Depression and bipolar disorder, Autism, Anxiety, PTSD and OCD | Participants160 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07439510 | Start2026 | PhasePhase 2/3 | ConditionsAutism | Participants120 | Lead sponsorIndustry | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07426302 | Start2023 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsADHD, Autism | Participants50 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07384819 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants228 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07381504 | Start2025 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism, Sleep and sleep disorders | Participants120 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07376356 | Start2026 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants40 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusNot yet recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07373431 | Start2020 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism, Epilepsy | Participants50 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusCompleted | Library tests named
|
| NCT07322952 | Start2025 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants158 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusCompleted | Library tests named
|
| NCT07308210 | Start2024 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants15 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusActive, not recruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07295912 | Start2023 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsAutism | Participants62 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusCompleted | Library tests named
|
| NCT07262853 | Start2025 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsADHD, Autism | Participants288 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
| NCT07258914 | Start2024 | PhaseNot applicable | ConditionsDepression and bipolar disorder, Autism | Participants25 | Lead sponsorOther | StatusRecruiting | Library tests named
|
Questions, answered from the data
Which cognitive test do autism trials use most?
The Vocabulary Test: 21 of the 200 registered studies name it in an outcome measure, 11%. Next come Emoji Emotion Recognition (19) and the Stroop Color-Word Test (19).
Which cognitive test do autism trials use most as a primary outcome?
The Vocabulary Test, named in a primary outcome by 7 studies. 84 of the 200 studies, 42%, name a cognitive test in a primary outcome.
How many participants does a phase 2 autism trial enroll?
Half of the phase 2 autism studies enroll 46 participants or fewer, and the middle half enroll 29 to 74. 20 of them give a size.
How long after the start do autism trials measure a cognitive outcome?
Half of the primary outcomes that name a library test are measured within 8 weeks of the start, and the middle half from 1 week to 6 months. 107 primary outcomes give a duration.
Which cognitive tests do autism trials use together?
The Stroop Color-Word Test with the Trail Making Test most often: 7 studies name both. Next, the Card Sorting Test (Berg) with Matrix Reasoning (6).
How many completed autism trials have reported results?
50 of the 98 completed autism studies, 51%, have reported results: 32 posted them on ClinicalTrials.gov, 29 have a results paper linked to the registry record, and 11 did both. The other 48 show neither. Of all completed studies with a cognitive outcome, 46% have reported results.
How the studies are counted
For each test family, the census runs ClinicalTrials.gov's own outcome search for the family's names and reads every study first posted by the day the family was counted. These studies were read on 10 November 2026. A study counts once on a page, however many tests it names. Counts for a test cover every version of the task under any of its names, so a page can count studies that used a commercial version.
The census adds two things to each record and changes nothing in it: which outcome list names the test (primary, then secondary, then other), and the condition groups, matched on the study's condition names and MeSH terms. A study can fall in several groups; one whose only condition is cognitive impairment or decline falls in “Cognitive impairment and decline”. Studies that name only instruments outside the library count in every total and share but are not listed.
A second read on 10 November 2026 added each study's overall status, whether results are posted, its intervention types, the countries of its sites and the time frame of the outcome that names each test. A time frame counts by the latest time point it names: “Baseline, 12 and 24 weeks” is 24 weeks, a single visit is within a day, and one that names no duration, such as “end of treatment”, is left out of the timings.
A third read on 10 November 2026 added the papers the registry links to each study: those its sponsor lists as reporting results, and those PubMed links to it through the study's NCT number. A study has a results paper when one of them came out in or after the month of its primary completion and PubMed does not class it as a protocol, review or comment. A paper that never gives the NCT number is not linked, so some studies counted as reporting neither did publish.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, which does not endorse these pages. Every study line is in the data release 2.1.0, and the explorer's own file is clinical-trials-studies.json.
Plan the cognitive outcomes of a autism trial
Choose tests with a record in registered trials, and run them in a browser at every site, on the same version each visit.