Francesca Happé researches into the normal and abnormal development of processes that underlie social insight and communication. Her work involves looking at the causes of autism and the effects it has on people with this condition. Her work involves the study of ‘theory of mind’, the intuitive ability of people to read body language and facial expressions, so as to understand how others are feeling and what they are thinking.

Francesca is keen to convey to people that autism is not just a deficit, but a different way of processing the world. Some of her recent studies have shown the sorts of things people with autism are really good at and that these ‘detail-focused’ abilities run in their families.