The thalamus, which is considered the "gateway" that relays sensory information entering the brain to the cortex, could also be involved in SOR. However, some electroencephalography (EEG) studies have found group differences in event-related potentials (ERPs) in response to tones, which may suggest an atypical response to sound in the primary auditory cortex. 8 presented expanding circles of color to adults with and without ASD, and found no between-group differences in visual cortex retinotopic maps.
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The authors theorized that novel auditory stimuli are initially processed normally but receive differential attention from the novelty detection circuit. 7 found that early adolescents with ASD responded faster to novel sounds than TD controls did, and had higher activation in prefrontal and inferior parietal regions but no differences in activation of auditory cortex. In one of the few functional MRI (fMRI) studies of response to nonsocial sensory stimuli in children with ASD, Gomot et al. Research in this area is critical to help explain heterogeneity within ASD, and can inform intervention targeted at specific subgroups of children with ASD.
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5, 6ĭespite the prevalence of and considerable impairment caused by SOR in children with ASD, there is a paucity of research on the neurobiological bases of SOR. 3, 4 SOR is associated with increased functional impairment in children with ASD, including lower levels of social and adaptive skills, 1, 5, negative emotionality, 6 and anxiety. 1 About 56-70% of children with ASD meet criteria for SOR 2, 3 compared to 10–17% of typically developing (TD) children. Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) is characterized by an extreme, negative response to, or avoidance of, sensory stimuli such as noisy or visually stimulating environments, sudden loud noises, seams in clothing, or being touched unexpectedly.
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Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) often display impairments in responding to sensory stimuli, in addition to the core symptoms of ASD which include impairments in language and reciprocal social behavior.