One theory proposes that people with autism are above average on systemizing, which includes analysis and understanding of rule-based systems, and below average on empathizing, which refers to emotional and social thinking, says Xin Wei, a senior research analyst at the Center for Education and Human Services at Stanford Research Institute International and the study’s lead author.” People with autism naturally think like scientists. They look for patterns, and, in science, we are always looking for patterns that we hope reflect a natural law. The findings are not surprising. It is a worry that students with autism are underrepresented at universities.