Dr Elisa Back
Faculties, departments and locations
- Faculty of Business and Social Sciences
- Department of Psychology
- School of Law, Social and Behavioural Sciences
- Penrhyn Road
Associate Professor
- Email:
- [email protected]
About
I obtained my PhD in Psychology from the University of Nottingham in 2006. My thesis was about inferring mental states from facial expressions in neurotypical individuals as well as autistic children and adolescents. In 2007, I was awarded the Neil O'Connor prize by the British Psychology Society's Developmental section for my research with developmental disorders. My postdoctoral research was related to Theory of Mind and I carried this out at the University of Birmingham in 2006–2008.
I joined the Department of Psychology at Kingston University in 2008. My research area is social-cognitive development in neurotypical and neurodiverse populations across the life-span. My current research focuses on how autistic individuals perceive and interpret the world and the impact this has on daily life using a range of methodologies such as eye-tracking.
I am the director of the Developing Minds Lab within the Department of Psychology. You can find out the latest information about our lab's research activities and events on our Facebook page.
I am also a chartered psychologist (CPsychol) and I was a committee member of the British Psychological Society (BPS) Developmental Section in 2012–2018.
Qualifications
- 2002 BSc (Hons) Psychology (First Class), Staffordshire University
- 2006 PhD Psychology, University of Nottingham
Domains
I teach on a range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules in the area of developmental psychology as well as research skills, dissertation and placement modules.
I also lead a range of CPD and community engagement events that students and colleagues from across the University participate in as well as academics and professionals external to Kingston University.
I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy and an external examiner of undergraduate and postgraduate psychology courses.
Qualifications
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Courses taught
Developing Minds Lab
I am the director of the Developing Minds Lab which is a research group consisting of academics, PhD students and researchers based within the Department of Psychology. We carry out research in typical and atypical development across the lifespan (children, adolescents, and adults). Our expertise covers areas such as autism, social cognition, and cognitive development. We have fortnightly research meetings and host a variety of different events ranging from workshops and networking opportunities to our popular 'Young Scientist Event'.
PhD supervision
- Hayley Spurin
Social attention strategies and theory of mind understanding in autistic children and adolescents (completed in 2022) - Rashma Hirani
Recognition of briefly presented facial expressions across the lifespan and in autism - Milani Pathmanathan
Theory of Mind strategies in autism - Kim Jonkman
Interventions and support for autistic children and adults
Please contact me if you are interested in applying for a PhD in the areas of autism, face processing, theory of mind, social cognitive development
Funding
- Google UK 2024–2025 Read Along app with children
- Google UK 2024–2025 Digital communication within a neurodiverse framework
- Santander Universities UK 2022–2023: Autism Peer Network
- British Academy 2011–2012: Visual perspective-taking in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
- University of Nottingham 2002: 3–year PhD studentship
Specialisms
- Developmental Psychology
- Neurodiversity
- Autism
- Theory of Mind
- Face processing
Scholarly affiliations
- British Psychological Society
- International Society for Autism Research
Publications
Support services for autistic adults: what helps and why?
Jonkman, K.M., Back, E., Scheeren, A.M., Begeer, S. and Staal, W.G., 2026, Research in Autism (134), E-pub ahead of print
Perspectives on the use of a nutritious child-friendly meal recipe kit in neurodivergent families
Back, Elisa, Sumpter, Sarah, Mulrooney, Hilda and Ranta, Ronald, 2026, Research in Neurodiversity (2), E-pub ahead of print
Brief report: parental perceptions of helpfulness of support services for autistic children
Jonkman, K.M., Back, Elisa, Staal, W.G. and Scheeren, A.M., 2025, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, E-pub ahead of print
Experiences of autistic individuals, caregivers and healthcare providers with ABA-derived therapies: a sequential exploratory mixed methods study
Jonkman, Kim M., den Hartog, Charlotte, Sloot, Bart, Begeer, Sander, Back, Elisa and Scheeren, Anke, 2025, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, E-pub ahead of print
The benefits of an autism peer network in higher education
Back, Elisa, Main, Ellie, Schur, Pheobe, Manitsa, Ifigeneia, Clifford, Katharine, Barlow-Brown, Fiona, Parchment, Swane and Spurin, Hayley, 2025, Neurodiversity (3), Published
Over het gebruik van alternatieve behandelingen voor autisme
Jonkman, Kim, Back, Elisa, Staal, Wouter, Benard, Lotte, van der Doelen, Daniël and Begeer, Sander, 2024, Wetenschappelijk Tijdschrift Autisme (2024), 3, Published
Parental perspectives on the use of fidget toys and sensory-seeking profiles in autistic and neurotypical children
Roche, Megan A., Back, Elisa and Van Herwegen, Jo, 2023, Current Psychology, E-pub ahead of print
Exploring experiences of vaccine-related and alternative treatments for individuals with autism: a qualitative study
Jonkman, Kim M., Livanou, Maria, Alma, Manna A., Benard, Lotte, Begeer, Sander and Back, Elisa, 2023, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, Published
Alternative treatments for autism: prevalence and predictors
Jonkman, Kim M., Back, Elisa, Staal, Wouter G., Benard, Lotte, van der Doelen, Daniël M. and Begeer, Sander, 2022, Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders (98), Published
Block design performance in Williams syndrome: visuospatial abilities or task approach skills?
Back, Elisa, Farran, Emily K. and Van Herwegen, Jo, 2022, American Journal on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (127), 5pp 390-399, Published
Predicting intervention use in autistic children: demographic and autism-specific characteristics
Jonkman, Kim M., Back, Elisa and Begeer, Sander, 2022, Autism, E-pub ahead of print
Inferring mental states from dynamic faces in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: insights from eye-tracking
Back, Elisa, 2019, Child Development (90), 5pp 1589-1597, Published
Revealing variations in perception of mental states from dynamic facial expressions: a cautionary note
Back, Elisa and Jordan, Timothy R., 2014, PLoS ONE (9), 1, Published
Looking and thinking: how individuals with Williams syndrome make judgements about mental states
Hanley, Mary, Riby, Deborah M., Caswell, Stephen, Rooney, Sinead and Back, Elisa, 2013, Research in Developmental Disabilities (34), 12pp 4466-4476, Published
Can individuals with Williams syndrome interpret mental states from moving faces?
Riby, Deborah M. and Back, Elisa, 2010, Neuropsychologia (48), 7pp 1914-1922, Published
Two sources of evidence on the non-automaticity of true and false belief ascription
Back, Elisa and Apperly, Ian A., 2010, Cognition (115), 1pp 54-70, Published
The recognition of mental states from dynamic and static facial expressions
Back, Elisa, Jordan, Timothy R. and Thomas, Sharon M., 2009, Visual Cognition (17), 8pp 1271-1286, Published
The cost of thinking about false beliefs: Evidence from adults' performance on a non-inferential theory of mind task
Apperly, Ian A., Back, Elisa, Samson, Dana and France, Lisa, 2008, Cognition (106), 3pp 1093-1108, Published
Do the eyes have it? Inferring mental states from animated faces in autism
Back, Elisa, Ropar, Danielle and Mitchell, Peter, 2007, Child Development (78), 2pp 397-411, Published
Working with autism: best practice guidelines for psychologists
Bates, Andrew, Back, Elisa, Ingham, Barry, Jones, Glenys, Jordan, Rita, MacKay, Tommy, Meina, Lynda, Crabtree, Jason, Daves-Hales, Maria, Hannan, Sinead, Hughes, Marie-Louise, Hunt, Katie, Howlin, Patricia, Conallen, Kevin and O'Dell, Lindsey (2021). [Published]
Perspectives on the use of a nutritious child-friendly meal recipe kit in neurodivergent families
Back, Elisa, Sumpter, Sarah, Mulrooney, Hilda and Ranta, Ronald(2025). [Published]
Amplifying neurodiverse voices in environmental debates: learning opportunities based around participative research engagement
Back, Elisa and Panagiota Paliokosta, Paty(2024). [Published]
The benefits of an autism peer network in higher education
Back, Elisa, Schur, Phoebe, Barlow-Brown, Fiona, Parchment, Swane, Spurin, Hayley, Main, Ellie, Manitsa, Ifigeneia and Clifford, Katharine(2024). [Published]
Parents' mentalising abilities and the role of autistic traits and emotion talk
Back, Elisa and Tenenbaum, Harriet(2023). [Published]
Fidget toys and sensory seeking profiles in autistic children
Back, E., Roche, M. and Van Herwegen, J.(2023). [Published]
Parental perspectives on the use of fidget toys in autistic and typically developing children
Back, Elisa, Van Herwegen, Jo and Roche, Megan(2022). [Published]
Predictors of treatment use in autistic children
Back, Elisa, Jonkman, Kim M. and Beeger, Sander(2022). [Published]
Predictors of treatment choice in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: demographic and autism-specific characteristics
Back, Elisa, Jonkman, Kim and Begeer, Sander(2021). [Published]
Multimodal emotion understanding in children with and without autism
Back, Elisa, Barhouch, Angela and Khoo, Chok(2021). [E-pub ahead of print]
Recognising microexpressions across varied time-frames in children with autism
Back, Elisa and Hirani, Rashma(2019). [Published]
Emotion understanding in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Back, Elisa, Barhouch, Angela, Bentil-Mensah, Fatmatta, Chok Ming Khoo, Jeremy and Varghese, Tania(2019). [Published]
Adolescents with and without autism use similar strategies when inferring mental states from facial expressions
Back, Elisa(2019). [Published]
Visual-spatial abilities and task approach skills in Williams syndrome
Back, Elisa, Farran, Emily and Van Herwegen, Jo(2018). [Published]
Complex mental states and basic emotion recognition in dynamic film - an exploration of Theory of Mind understanding in ASD
Hunt, Hayley, Back, Elisa and Van Herwegen, Jo(2018). [Published]
Cognitive and Affective Theory of Mind in children and adolescents with and without ASD.
Back, Elisa, Cotmore, Hannah, Dalebout-Campbell, Jessica, Darabi-Hammond, Marjan, Ganter, Jessica and Williams, Annette(2018). [Published]
Social cognitive profiles in children and adolescents with ASD
Back, Elisa, Williams, Annette, Darabi-Hammond, Marjan, Ganter, Jessica, Dalebout-Campbell, Jessica and Cotmore, Hannah(2018). [Published]
The recognition of microexpressions: a comparison between children with ASD and typically developing children
Hirani, Rashma and Back, Elisa(2018). [Published]
Real time language production and Theory of Mind assessment in Austism Spectrum Disorder
Van Herwegen, Jo, Hunt, Hayley and Back, Elisa(2018). [Published]
What do eye movements reveal about inferring mental states from dynamic facial expressions in adolescents with ASD?
Back, Elisa(2017). [Published]
Recognising complex emotions: eye movements in adolescents and children with ASD.
Hunt, Hayley, Back, Elisa and Van Herwegen, Jo(2016). [Published]
The recognition of microexpressions across the lifespan in typically developing individuals
Hirani, Rashma and Back, Elisa(2016). [Published]
Theory of Mind usage in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Back, Elisa and Apperly, Ian Antony(2015). [Published]
Gaze laterality bias for faces in Williams Syndrome
Wilson, Rachel, Riby, Debbie, Goshawk, Michelle, Burt, Mike and Back, Elisa(2014). [Published]
Can individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and typically developing individuals rapidly use Theory of Mind information?
Back, Elisa(2014). [Published]
Visual perspective-taking in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Back, E. and Apperly, I.(2012). [Published]
Visual perspective-taking in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Back, Elisa, Granados, Patricia and Apperly, Ian(2011). [Published]
Can adolescents with autism rapidly infer mental states from faces?
Ramdhonee, Karishma, Apperly, Ian and Back, Elisa(2011). [Published]
The perception and pose of emotional expressions in adolescents with autism
Back, E., Hunt, H. and Lindell, A.(2010). [Published]
Can children with autism infer mental states and respond appropriately to mental state information from the eyes?
Back, Elisa(2009). [Published]
Are true beliefs ascribed by default?
Back, Elisa and Apperly, Ian(2008). [Published]
Can children with autism respond appropriately to mental states from dynamic faces?
Back, E., Brown, S. and Beecham, E.(2008). [Published]
Are true beliefs ascribed by default?
Back, E. and Apperly, I.(2007). [Published]
Do the eyes have it? Attributing mental states to dynamic facial expressions in children and adolescents with autism
Back, Elisa(2007). [Published]
Do the eyes have it? Inferring mental states from animated facial expressions in children and adolescents with autism
Back, E., Mitchell, P. and Ropar, D.(2007). [Published]
Do the eyes have it? Inferring mental states from animated facial expressions in children and adolescents with autism
Back, Elisa, Mitchell, Peter and Ropar, Danielle(2007). [Published]
Attributing mental states to animated faces in individuals with austic spectrum disorders
Back, Elisa, Mitchell, P. and Ropar, D.(2005). [Published]
The influence of facial motion on the recognition of mental states in children with autism
Back, E., Mitchell, P. and Ropar, D.(2005). [Published]
The role of dynamic and static information in the recognition of complex mental states from facial expressions
Back, Elisa, Mitchell, Peter and Ropar, Danielle(2005). [Published]
The recognition of complex mental states from static and dynamic facial expressions
Back, E., Mitchell, P. and Ropar, D.(2004). [Published]
Gallery of work
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Logo
Logo for Developing Minds Lab
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Flyer
Developing Minds Lab Flyer
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KU Civic Showcase
Eye-tracking research
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Postgraduate Research Poster Event
Annual event where postgraduate students present their research as part of the dissertation module. Wearing jeans for genes day to raise awareness of genetic disorders
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Autism Peer Network
Autism Peer Network for KU students
Videos of my work
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Young Scientist Days
Annual event where children take part in our Developmental Psychology research
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Young Scientist Event 2023
Annual event where children take part in our Developmental Psychology research