A new study has challenged the long-held assumption that autistic people are emotionally stunted, finding that, in fact, people with autism experience complex emotions. It’s hoped these findings will lead to better therapy strategies for neurodivergent people.

Since autism was first described in the 1940s, it’s been assumed that a key feature of the condition is a blunted emotional response or an inability to describe emotions. And that’s often how autistic people are depicted in movies and on TV.