Conclusions: Retrospective and Prospective

In this chapter I provide a brief summary of the main conclusions drawn from the work presented in the previous chapters. I outline limitations in cognitive models of talent in autism and propose a more complete account of the multiple factors involved in musical talent in autism. This re-appraisal of theoretical models has been motivated and informed by the accounts of autistic musicians, and I propose that future work should build on the insights that these provide. Research into musical talent in autism enriches our understanding of musicality as a complex human trait and may also contribute to ongoing debates about differences in profiles of communication strengths and difficulties distinguishing autistic and neurotypical people.