Professor Megan Freeth

BSc, MSc, PhD.

School of Psychology

Professor of Neurodevelopmental Psychology

Megan smiles at the camera, with shoulder length blonde hair and wearing glasses
Profile picture of Megan smiles at the camera, with shoulder length blonde hair and wearing glasses
m.freeth@sheffield.ac.uk
Interdisciplinary Centre of the Social Sciences (ICOSS)

Full contact details

Professor Megan Freeth
School of Psychology
Interdisciplinary Centre of the Social Sciences (ICOSS)
219 Portobello
Sheffield
S1 4DP
Profile

I am a psychologist with expertise in neurodiversity. I am director of the Sheffield Autism Research Lab (ShARL). ShARL seeks to conduct research that is driven by the priorities of Autistic people. Our goal is for the research we do to have a positive impact on the lives of Autistic people, their families and support networks. Over the past 18 years my research has spanned the fields of cognitive, developmental, social and clinical psychology. 

My recent work has a strong systems focus, particularly in relation to health and social care. I also work on improving access to high quality employment for neurodivergent people. I use methods that centre people’s lived experiences with a view to communicating their perspectives and needs with the goal of effecting positive change. I develop and assess the psychometric properties of clinical tools and use clinical trials to rigorously assess the utility of interventions. I also do research using a systems mapping approach with an aim of addressing the systemic barriers that neurodivergent people face. 

I use co-production to ensure that the research questions I address and the methods I use align with community priorities and encourage continuous dialogue with community members, organisations and professionals. I often use mixed methods in order to comprehensively address research questions. This can involve using qualitative interviews and systematic reviews to inform the design of large-scale surveys and the design of clinical trials. 

Qualifications
  • 2009 PhD (University of Nottingham)
  • 2005 MSc (University of Nottingham)
  • 2003 BSc (University of Birmingham)
Research interests

- Neurodiversity (including Autism, ADHD and Learning Disability)
- Healthcare systems
- Employment
- Co-production

Publications

Show: Featured publications All publications

Journal articles

  • Day M, Wood C, Corker E & Freeth M (2025) . Autism, 29(5), 1263-1274.
  • Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2024) . Autism, 28(9), 2166-2178.
  • 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, 28(9), 2394-2411.
  • Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2024) . Autism, 28(6), 1394-1404.
  • Smith H, Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Freeth M, Fricke S, Matthews D & McNeill A (2024) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 68(3), 285-292.
  • Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Smith H, McNeill A & Freeth M (2023) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 143.
  • Crowson S, Poole D, Scargill K & Freeth M (2023) . Autism, 28(4), 854-865.
  • Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2023) . Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(6), 768-778.
  • Lopez B, Gregory NJ & Freeth M (2023) . Autism, 27(8), 2372-2383.
  • 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).
  • Morgan EJ, Foulsham T & Freeth M (2021) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(9), 3245-3255.
  • Dugdale A-S, Thompson AR, Leedham A, Beail N & Freeth M (2021) . Autism, 25(7), 1973-1984.
  • 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, 182(5), 1284-1287.
  • Leedham AT, Thompson AR & Freeth M (2020) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 97.
  • Leedham A, Thompson A, Smith R & Freeth M (2020) . Autism, 24(1), 135-146.
  • Lane C, Robinson L & Freeth M (2020) . Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(3), 312-319.
  • Simpson J, Thwaites K & Freeth M (2019) . Sustainability, 11(15).
  • Lane C, Van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63(8), 917-925.
  • Kelly C, Morgan G, Freeth M, Siegal M & Matthews D (2019) . The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 24(3), 245-254.
  • Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Neuropsychology, 13(2), 240-252.
  • Treweek C, Wood C, Martin J & Freeth M (2019) . Autism, 23(3), 759-769.
  • Freeth M & Bugembe P (2019) . Autism, 23(2), 503-513.
  • Lane C, van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 1475-1483.
  • Simpson JC, Freeth M, Simpson K & Thwaites K (2018) . Journal of Urbanism, 12(3), 259-278.
  • Morgan E, Freeth M & Smith DT (2018) . Vision, 2(1).
  • Freeth M, Lane C & Milne E (2016) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
  • 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.
  • Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2016) . PLoS One, 11(2).
  • Vabalas A & Freeth M (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.
  • Heaton TJ & Freeth M () . Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Book chapters

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

Conference proceedings

  • Freeth M & Vablas A (2015) . 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

  • Freeth M, Crowson S, Leporcher K-L, Day M, Scargill K, Poole D, Kellar I, Broglia E, Alehagen L, Hasslinger J & Bölte S (2026) . Neurodiversity, 4.
  • Day M, Scargill K, Poole D, Kellar I, Young TA, Bölte S, Clarke S, Lodge K-M, Woods A & Freeth M (2026) . BMJ Open, 16(3).
  • Shittu O, Smith G & Freeth M (2025) . BJPsych Open, 11(S1), S68-S69.
  • Au-Yeung SK, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2025) . Autism, 29(8), 2181-2192.
  • Day M, Wood C, Corker E & Freeth M (2025) . Autism, 29(5), 1263-1274.
  • Grahame C, Thompson AR & Freeth M (2024) . Autism in Adulthood.
  • Smethurst L, Thompson A & Freeth M (2024) . Autism in Adulthood.
  • Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2024) . Autism, 28(9), 2166-2178.
  • 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, 28(9), 2394-2411.
  • Radev S, Freeth M & Thompson AR (2024) . Autism, 28(6), 1394-1404.
  • Smith H, Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Freeth M, Fricke S, Matthews D & McNeill A (2024) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 68(3), 285-292.
  • Al-Jawahiri R, Stokes L, Smith H, McNeill A & Freeth M (2023) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 143.
  • Crowson S, Poole D, Scargill K & Freeth M (2023) . Autism, 28(4), 854-865.
  • Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2023) . Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science, 132(6), 768-778.
  • Lopez B, Gregory NJ & Freeth M (2023) . Autism, 27(8), 2372-2383.
  • 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).
  • Wilson RB, Thompson AR, Rowse G, Smith R, Dugdale A-S & Freeth M (2022) . Autism, 27(5), 1336-1347.
  • 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, 49(6), 1775-1791.
  • 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.
  • Morgan EJ, Foulsham T & Freeth M (2021) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 51(9), 3245-3255.
  • 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, 25(7), 1973-1984.
  • Freeth M, Morgan E, Bugembe P & Brown A (2020) . Autism, 24(6), 1482-1493.
  • Lane C, Tatton-Brown K & Freeth M (2020) . Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 62(8), 993-998.
  • McNeill A, Lewis R & Freeth M (2020) . American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 182(5), 1284-1287.
  • Leedham AT, Thompson AR & Freeth M (2020) . Research in Developmental Disabilities, 97.
  • Leedham A, Thompson A, Smith R & Freeth M (2020) . Autism, 24(1), 135-146.
  • Lane C, Robinson L & Freeth M (2020) . Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 129(3), 312-319.
  • Simpson J, Thwaites K & Freeth M (2019) . Sustainability, 11(15).
  • Lane C, Van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 63(8), 917-925.
  • Kelly C, Morgan G, Freeth M, Siegal M & Matthews D (2019) . The Journal of Deaf Studies and Deaf Education, 24(3), 245-254.
  • Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Neuropsychology, 13(2), 240-252.
  • Treweek C, Wood C, Martin J & Freeth M (2019) . Autism, 23(3), 759-769.
  • Freeth M & Bugembe P (2019) . Autism, 23(2), 503-513.
  • Lane C, van Herwegen J & Freeth M (2019) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 49, 1475-1483.
  • Simpson JC, Freeth M, Simpson K & Thwaites K (2018) . Journal of Urbanism, 12(3), 259-278.
  • Morgan E, Freeth M & Smith DT (2018) . Vision, 2(1).
  • Freeth M, Lane C & Milne E (2016) . Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
  • 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.
  • Lane C, Milne E & Freeth M (2016) . PLoS One, 11(2).
  • Vabalas A & Freeth M (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.
  • Freeth M, Poole D, Newell V & Scargill K () . Autism.
  • Heaton TJ & Freeth M () . Journal of Abnormal Psychology.

Book chapters

  • Lane C & Freeth M (2021) , Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 4510-4514). Springer International Publishing
  • Lane C & Freeth M (2019) , Chromatin Signaling and Neurological Disorders (pp. 219-234). Elsevier
  • Lane C & Freeth M (2017) , Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders (pp. 1-5). Springer New York
  • Freeth M, Milne E, Sheppard E & Ramachandran R () Wiley

Conference proceedings

  • Mcneill A & Freeth M (2020) . European Journal of Human Genetics, Vol. 28(Suppl 1) (pp 1009-1009). Online, 6 June 2020 - 6 June 2020.
  • Freeth M & Vablas A (2015) . 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

  • Newell V, Anderson N, Eckford A, Needham K, Scrivener M, Webster A, Huddy V, Hughson-Gill R, Kellar I, Langley J , Scargill K et al (2026) , Center for Open Science.
  • Day M, Freeth M, Leporcher K-L, Scargill K, Poole D, Kellar I, Broglia E, Alehagen L, Hasslinger J & Bölte S (2025) , Center for Open Science.
  • Day M, Freeth M, Leporcher K-L, Scargill K, Poole D, Kellar I, Broglia E, Alehagen L, Hasslinger J & Bölte S (2025) , Center for Open Science.
  • Day M, Freeth M, Scargill K, Poole D, Kellar I, Young T, Bölte S, Clarke S, Lodge K-M & Woods A (2025) , Center for Open Science.
  • Crowson S, Poole D, Scargill K & Freeth M (2022) , Center for Open Science.
  • Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2022) , Center for Open Science.
  • Smith H, Lane C, Al-Jawahiri R & Freeth M (2022) , Center for Open Science.
Research group

Cognitive and neural processes across the lifespan

Wellbeing of individuals and society

Grants
  • NIHR Work and Health Development Award (September 2025 - August 2026) Neurodivergence at work: ensuring employment support systems meet the needs of neurodivergent people (PI) £119,726
  • NIHR PDG (February 2025 - January 2026) Participatory Systems Mapping with Underserved Autistic Adults: Co-Designing Health and Social Care Solutions Through Creative Arts (Co-PI) £148,622
  • 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 (Sheffield Children's Hospital) and 51ݶ (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
  • PhD supervisor
  • DClinPsy supervisor
  • MSc supervisor
Professional activities and memberships

Editor at Autism

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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