Sensory Sensitivity Research Articles

Brain circuits in autonomous sensory meridian response and related phenomena.

Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) is characterized by a tingling sensation with a feeling of relaxation and a state of flow. We explore the neural underpinnings and comorbidities of ASMR and related phenomena with altered sensory processing. These phenomena include sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), synaesthesia, Alice in Wonderland syndrome and misophonia. The objective of this article is to uncover the shared neural substrates and distinctive features of ASMR and its counterparts. ASMR, SPS and misophonia exhibit common activations in the brain regions associated with social cognition, emotion regulation and empathy. Nevertheless, ASMR responders display reduced connectivity in the salience network (SN), while individuals with SPS exhibit increased connectivity in the SN. Furthermore, ASMR induces relaxation and temporarily reduces symptoms of depression, in contrast to SPS and misophonia, which are linked to depression. These observations lead us to propose that ASMR is a distinct phenomenon owing to its attention dispatch mechanism and its connection with emotion regulation. We suggest that increased activations in the insula, along with reduction inconnectivity within the salience and default mode networks in ASMR responders, may account for their experiences of relaxation and flow states. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sensing and feeling: an integrative approach to sensory processing and emotional experience'.

Arousal and the modulation of sensory experience: evidence from food-related emotions.

Across sensory systems, several stimulus collative characteristics, including intensity, novelty, complexity and perceived dangerousness, are known to elicit high levels of physiological and psychological arousal. It has become apparent that food rejections by both children and adults are frequently linked to such arousal-inducing characteristics. This paper examines how arousal and arousability are important elements in responding to stimuli generally, but specifically to foods, ultimately influencing food preferences and choices. It is clear that responses to sensory properties are subject not just to variations in perceptual sensitivity due to genetics or experience-as in the case of widely rejected qualities such as bitterness or pungency-but also to the arousal potential of those stimuli. Moreover, this is linked to various enduring aspects of personality, suggesting that the impact of arousal on food choices is merely one aspect of a more general sensory sensitivity. The impact of diet on various health outcomes underlines the importance of understanding the relationship of arousal to food choices. This article is part of the theme issue 'Sensing and feeling: an integrative approach to sensory processing and emotional experience'.

Being highly sensitive person negatively impacts on cognitive and psychosocial fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients: A cross-sectional, monocenter study

BackgroundFatigue is a common symptom in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but its determinants are not clarified yet. Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a personality trait characterized by enhanced sensitivity towards endogenous and exogenous stimuli, and higher attention toward minimal stimuli, resulting in overarousal and fatigue. Objectiveto evaluate the association between SPS and fatigue in MS patients. Methods192 consecutive MS patients (age of 43.3 ± 12.1 years; females 67.2 %; median EDSS of 2.5 (0 – 7)) underwent clinical (EDSS, age, gender), cognitive (BICAMS, Trial Making Test [TMT]), psychosocial (Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI], Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], Modified Fatigue Impact Scale [MFIS]) and sensitivity evaluation (Highly Sensitive Person [HSP]Scale). Patients were classified as HSP if the score was greater than 14. A stepwise regression model was applied to explore association between SPS and MFIS total scores and sub-scores, by accounting for age, gender, education, EDSS, Cerebral FS scores, TMT-Part A and part B scores, BAI, BDI, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). ResultsTotal HSP was 17.2 ± 6.8 and 129 patients (67 %) were classified as highly sensitive persons (HSP). HSP patients were more female patients (p = 0.02) with a longer disease duration (p = 0.03). HSP people showed higher total MFIS score (27.6 ± 20.6 vs 13.2 ± 14.1, p < 0.001), higher physical MFIS score (p < 0.001), higher cognitive MFIS score (p < 0.001), higher psychosocial MFIS score (p < 0.001) vs non-HSP patients. Higher total MFIS was associated with SPS trait (coeff. 6.9, p = 0.006). Specifically, SPS trait was associated with higher cognitive MFIS (coeff. 5.3, p < 0.001) and higher psychosocial MFIS (coeff. 0.7, p = 0.02). ConclusionSPS was associated with fatigue. Since SPS could be easily and quickly assessed in clinical settings, SPS could unveil a higher propensity of a patient toward fatigue occurrence over the disease course and could provide hints for possible preventive cognitive behavior therapy.

"Don't talk to me like Iam an illness": exploring patients' needs using the communication passport in an eating disorder service.

Social challenges are common in patients with eating disorders (ED). The presence of autistic characteristics often exacerbates social difficulties within this group, potentially affecting treatment outcomes. This study investigates the communication preferences, challenges, dislikes, and support needs of patients with ED, both with and without autistic traits, using acommunication passport in anational inpatient ED service. An explorative qualitative analysis of 38 completed communication passports was conducted to investigate patients' communication preferences, sensory needs, struggles and dislikes, and areas of support required, paying particular attention to the distinct needs of patients with high levels of autistic traits. The communication passport provided valuable insights into patients' communication preferences, sensory sensitivities, challenges, and support needed. Patients also used the passports to share information about their strengths, personal identity, and life beyond the hospital. The communication passport fosters adeeper understanding of patients' needs and may support clinicians in care planning and communication strategies tailored to each patient's needs. Regular evaluation and updates are warranted to ensure its usability and accessibility by the wider care team.

Children and adolescents with primary headaches exhibit altered sensory profiles – a multi-modal investigation

BackgroundPediatric headache is an increasing medical problem that has adverse effects on children’s quality of life, academic performance, and social functioning. Children with primary headaches exhibit enhanced sensory sensitivity compared to their healthy peers. However, comprehensive investigations including multimodal sensory sensitivity assessment are lacking. This study aimed to compare sensory sensitivity of children with primary headaches with their healthy peers across multiple sensory domains.MethodsThe study included 172 participants aged 6 to 17 years (M = 13.09, SD = 3.02 years; 120 girls). Of these 80 participants were patients with migraine, 23 were patients with tension-type headache, and 69 were healthy controls. The following sensory measures were obtained: Mechanical Detection Threshold (MDT), Mechanical Pain Threshold (MPT), Mechanical Pain Sensitivity (MPS), detection and pain threshold for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS), olfactory and intranasal trigeminal detection threshold, and odor identification ability. Sensory sensitivity was compared between groups with a series of Kruskal-Wallis tests. Binomial regression models were used to compare the relative utility of sensory sensitivity measures in classifying participants into patients and healthy controls, as well as into patients with migraine and tension-type headache.ResultsPatients with migraine had lower MPT measured at the forearm than patients with tension-type headaches and healthy controls. MPS was higher in patients with migraine than in healthy controls. All patients with headaches had lower detection threshold of TENS and higher olfactory sensitivity. Healthy controls showed increased intranasal trigeminal sensitivity. Scores in MPS, TENS, and olfactory and trigeminal thresholds were significantly predicting presence of primary headaches. Additionally, scores in MPT, olfactory and trigeminal threshold were positive predictors of type of headache.ConclusionsChildren with primary headaches exhibit different sensory profiles than healthy controls. The obtained results suggest presence of increased overall, multimodal sensitivity in children with primary headaches, what may negatively impact daily functioning and contribute to further pain chronification.Trial registrationThe study was registered in the German Registry of Clinical Trials (DRKS) DRKS00021062.

Reducing Fear and Enhancing Aesthetics: Orthodontic Management with Video Self-Modeling in an Adolescent with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract Introduction Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents challenges in social interaction and communication, particularly in the context of orthodontic treatment where patients may experience heightened anxiety. This case report introduces an innovative approach that utilizes video self-modeling (VSM) to address these challenges and enhance the orthodontic treatment experience for adolescents with ASD. Case Report An 11-year-old female patient with ASD required orthodontic treatment. Conventional behavioral guidance techniques were unsuccessful because of the patient's anxiety and sensory sensitivity. Utilizing VSM, we crafted personalized video content to illustrate the dental procedure, significantly alleviating patient's fear and anxiety. This approach led to the successful completion of her orthodontic treatment. Conclusion This case report underscores the effectiveness of VSM as a valuable behavioral guidance technique in orthodontic treatment for adolescents with ASD. By alleviating anxiety and fear, VSM has the potential to significantly enhance the dental care experience and promote improved oral health and well-being in this specific patient population.

Interaction of sensory processing and balance in adult cochlear implant users.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensory processing skills, quality of life and balance performance in adult cochlear implant users. A sample of 40 individuals was studied in two groups; 20 normal hearing individuals (37.84 ± 15.39 years old) and 20 cochlear implant users (35.58 ± 11.22 year old). Balance performance was assessed by Computerized Dynamic Posturography. The Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile completed by the individual was used to assess sensory processing skills. Finally, quality of life was assessed with the Short Form-36. Among the different sensory processing parameters in the adolescent/adult sensory profile, a significant difference was found between the two groups in the parameters of low registration, sensory sensitivity and sensory avoidance (p < .05). Visual, vestibular and composite scores were found to be lower in cochlear implant users by Computerised Dynamic Posturography assessment (p < .05). When assessing quality of life, emotional well-being and social functioning parameters were found to be lower in cochlear implant users (p < .05). Factors such as the inability to reach sufficient auditory stimuli due to hearing loss and the occurrence of vestibular problems after cochlear implant surgery limit the quantity and quality of sensory stimuli from the environment. Individuals with cochlear implants may prefer to live isolated from society because they cannot adequately process incoming sensory stimuli due to hearing/balance problems, and this may negatively affect the quality of life of individuals. Our findings revealed the necessity of multisensory assessment and therapy protocols when rehabilitating individuals with cochlear implants.

Association of Urinary Incontinence with Sensory-Motor Performance in Women with Multiple Sclerosis.

The relationship between somatosensory and motor components of urinary incontinence in individuals with MS has not been extensively addressed. The study was aimed at investigating the association of urinary incontinence severity with motor and sensory performance in women with multiple sclerosis (MS). A cross-sectional single-center prospective study was conducted in 337 women with MS. The severity of MS symptoms was assessed using the SymptoMScreen questionnaire. The urinary incontinence status of the participants was evaluated using the Urinary Incontinence Inventory (UDI-6) and the Incontinence Impact Questionnaire (IIQ-7). Physical performance was considered with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and the 5-Times Sit-to-Stand (5TSTS) test. In addition, the sensory performance of the individuals with MS was queried using the Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) and Sensory Sensitivity Scale (SeSS). The UDI-6 (r=0.685, p<0.05) and IIQ-7 (r=0.759, p<0.05) correlated highly with SymptoMScreen. Among the physical performance measures, TUG (r=0.012, p<0.05) and 5TSTS (r=0.096, p<0.05) were weakly associated with UDI-6, but not statistically significantly. Similarly, there was a low correlation between IIQ-7 and TUG (r=-0.005, p<0.05) and 5TSTS (r=0.068, p<0.05). UDI-6 (0.360, p<0.05) and IIQ-7 (0.378, p<0.05) correlated moderately with SASS. On the other hand, SeSS had a low correlation coefficient with UDI-6 (0.305, p<0.05) and IIQ-7 (0.272, p<0.05). The results revealed that sensory performance was more associated with urinary incontinence in women with MS than physical performance. The urinary incontinence severity was also related to MS symptoms (bladder control, walking, spasticity, stiffness cognitive function). Future studies should consider the potential impact of sensory performance on urinary incontinence and focus on explaining the mechanism behind this relationship.

Objectifying subjective memory complaints: VR-based Verbal Word Learning Test in chronic stroke patients

Memory impairment imposes a great burden on stroke patients and can be divided into Objective Memory Problems (OMPs) and Subjective Memory Complaints (SMCs). Studies have shown that these do not always co-occur. Possibly, the gap between SMCs and OMPs can be bridged when using a more ecologically valid memory test and considering the impact of other common stroke symptoms such as sensory hypersensitivity (SHS) and fatigue. In the present study, we applied Virtual Reality (VR) to create a sensory-rich environment with real-life stimuli. Memory performance was tested with the 15-Verbal Word Learning Test (VLT). Furthermore, we assessed SMCs (Everyday Memory Questionnaire), and the levels of SHS (Multi-Modal Evaluation of Sensory Sensitivity) and fatigue in the previous month. 31 chronic stroke patients and 32 healthy controls participated. The results showed that participants’ memory performance decreased in a sensory-rich compared to a neutral environment. This decrease did not significantly differ between the groups. Interestingly, fatigue and SHS are related to the level of SMC in stroke patients but no such evidence was found in healthy controls. Last, for stroke patients, we found a significant negative correlation between SMCs and memory performance in a sensory-rich environment, but not in a neutral environment. In conclusion, our study implicates that in stroke patients, fatigue and SHS are related to SMCs and that using a sensory-rich VR environment might be a more ecologically valid way to objectify SMCs. However, interpretative caution is warranted due to the absence of sex and age-matched controls and potential selection bias.

Intervening in the Premonitory Phase to Prevent Migraine: Prospects for Pharmacotherapy.

Migraine is a common brain condition characterised by disabling attacks of headache with sensory sensitivities. Despite increasing understanding of migraine neurobiology and the impacts of this on therapeutic developments, there remains a need for treatment options for patients underserved by currently available therapies. The first specific drugs developed to treat migraine acutely, the serotonin-5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT1B/1D] receptor agonists (triptans), seem to require headache onset in order to have an effect, while early treatment during mild pain before headache escalation improves short-term and long-term outcomes. Some patients find treating in the early window once headache has started but not escalated difficult, and migraine can arise from sleep or in the early hours of the morning, making prompt treatment after pain onset challenging. Triptans may be deemed unsuitable for use in patients with vascular disease and in those of older age and may not be effective in a proportion of patients. Headache is also increasingly recognised as being just one of the many facets of the migraine attack, and for some patients it is not the most disabling symptom. In many patients, painless symptoms can start prior to headache onset and can reliably warn of impending headache. There is, therefore, a need to identify therapeutic targets and agents that may be used as early as possible in the course of the attack, to prevent headache onset before it starts, and to reduce both headache and non-headache related attack burden. Early small studies using domperidone, naratriptan and dihydroergotamine have suggested that this approach could be useful; these studies were methodologically less rigorousthan modern day treatment studies, of small sample size, and have not sincebeen replicated. The emergence of novel targeted migraine treatments more recently, specifically calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists (gepants), has reignited interest in this strategy, with encouraging results. This review summarises historical and emerging data in this area, supporting use of the premonitory phase as an opportunity to intervene as early as possible in migraine to prevent attack-related morbidity.

Comparison of Executive Functions, Sensory Processing and Theory of Mind in Children from Divorced Families and Ordinary Children

Introduction: Divorce is not only an event but also a process that has short-term and long-term effects on children. Aim: The present study was conducted to compare executive functions, sensory processing and theory of mind in children from divorced families and ordinary children. Method: This is causal-comparative research. The statistical population included 180 male and female students between 9 and 12 years old in Districts 5 and 18 of Tehran in the academic year 2021-2022 selected by convenience sampling method and divided in two groups of children from divorced families and ordinary children (n=90 in each group). For data collection, Executive Function System (D-KEFS) (Delis, Kaplan, &amp; Kramer, 2001), Sensory Profile (Dunn, 1999) and Theory of Mind (Hutchins et al., 2012) were used. The research data was analyzed by independent t-test and SPSS 24. Results: The results showed a significant difference in working memory (t=6.08, P&lt;0.05), mental flexibility (t=5.12, P&lt;0.05), inhibitory control (t=7.16, P&lt;0.05), sensory register (t=6.72, P&lt;0.05), sensation-seeking (t=4.65, P&lt;0.05) and sensory sensitivity (t=7.36, P&lt;0.05), and theory of mind levels including level 1 (t=7.12, P&lt;0.05), level 2 (t=7.14, P&lt;0.05), and level 3 (t=9.32, P&lt;0.05). The mean of ordinary children was higher than that of children from divorced families, but no significant difference was observed in the mean of sensory avoiding in both groups (P˃0.05). Conclusion: The status of executive functions, sensory processing and theory of mind in normal children was better than that of children from divorced families. Therefore, the use of educational programs to strengthen cognitive dimensions of the mind of children from divorced families with emphasis on executive functions, sensory processing and theory of mind can be effective on improving their cognitive performance.

Understanding Parental Needs for Managing Sensory Sensitivities in Autism: A Professional Analysis

Understanding Parental Needs for Managing Sensory Sensitivities in Autism: A Professional Analysis

Visuo-motor updating in individuals with heightened autistic traits

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a range of challenges, including heightened sensory sensitivities. Here, we examine the idea that sensory overload in ASD may be linked to issues with efference copy mechanisms, which predict the sensory outcomes of self-generated actions, such as eye movements. Efference copies play a vital role in maintaining visual and motor stability. Disrupted efference copies hinder precise predictions, leading to increased reliance on actual feedback and potential distortions in perceptions across eye movements. In our first experiment, we tested how well healthy individuals with varying levels of autistic traits updated their mental map after making eye movements. We found that those with more autistic traits had difficulty using information from their eye movements to update the spatial representation of their mental map, resulting in significant errors in object localization. In the second experiment, we looked at how participants perceived an object displacement after making eye movements. Using a trans-saccadic spatial updating task, we found that those with higher autism scores exhibited a greater bias, indicating under-compensation of eye movements and a failure to maintain spatial stability during saccades. Overall, our study underscores efference copy’s vital role in visuo-motor stability, aligning with Bayesian theories of autism, potentially informing interventions for improved action–perception integration in autism.

Visuo-motor updating in individuals with heightened autistic traits.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a range of challenges, including heightened sensory sensitivities. Here, we examine the idea that sensory overload in ASD may be linked to issues with efference copy mechanisms, which predict the sensory outcomes of self-generated actions, such as eye movements. Efference copies play a vital role in maintaining visual and motor stability. Disrupted efference copies hinder precise predictions, leading to increased reliance on actual feedback and potential distortions in perceptions across eye movements. In our first experiment, we tested how well healthy individuals with varying levels of autistic traits updated their mental map after making eye movements. We found that those with more autistic traits had difficulty using information from their eye movements to update the spatial representation of their mental map, resulting in significant errors in object localization. In the second experiment, we looked at how participants perceived an object displacement after making eye movements. Using a trans-saccadic spatial updating task, we found that those with higher autism scores exhibited a greater bias, indicating under-compensation of eye movements and a failure to maintain spatial stability during saccades. Overall, our study underscores efference copy's vital role in visuo-motor stability, aligning with Bayesian theories of autism, potentially informing interventions for improved action-perception integration in autism.

Language and sensory characteristics are reflected in voice-evoked responses in low birth weight children.

Children born with very low birth weight (VLBW) are at higher risk for cognitive impairment, including language deficits and sensorimotor difficulties. Voice-evoked response (P1m), which has been suggested as a language development biomarker in young children, remains unexplored for its efficacy in VLBW children. Furthermore, the relation between P1m and sensory difficulties in VLBW children remains unclear. 40 children with VLBW were recruited at 5-to-6 years old (26 male, 14 female, mean age of months ± SD, 80.0 ± 4.9). We measured their voice-evoked brain response using child-customized magnetoencephalography (MEG) and examined the relation between P1m and language conceptual inference ability and sensory characteristics. The final sample comprised 36 children (23 boys, 13 girls; ages 61-86 months; gestational ages 24-36 weeks). As a result of multiple regression analysis, voice-evoked P1m in the left hemisphere was correlated significantly with language ability (β = 0.414 P = 0.015) and sensory hypersensitivity (β = 0.471 P = 0.005). Our findings indicate that the relation between P1m and language conceptual inference ability observed in term children in earlier studies is replicated in VLBW children, and suggests P1m intensity as a biomarker of sensory sensitivity characteristics. We investigated brain functions related to language development and sensory problems in very low birth-weight children. In very low birth weight children at early school age, brain responses to human voices are associated with language conceptual inference ability and sensory hypersensitivity. These findings promote a physiological understanding of both language development and sensory characteristics in very low birth weight children.

Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome in Young Autistic Children, Children with ADHD, and Autistic Children with ADHD

ABSTRACT Objective Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS; previously called Sluggish Cognitive Tempo) refers to a constellation of cognitive and motor behaviors characterized by a predisposition toward mind wandering (cognitive subdomain) and slowed motor behavior (hypoactive). While there are a number of studies linking CDS traits to greater global impairment in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autistic children, there are few studies examining the prevalence and impact of CDS traits in autistic children with co-occurring ADHD (Autistic+ADHD). The current study explored CDS traits in autistic children with and without co-occurring ADHD, children with ADHD, and neurotypical children. Methods Participants were 196 children between 3- and 7-years-of-age comprising four groups: Neurotypical (N = 44), ADHD (N = 51), Autistic (N = 55), and Autistic+ADHD (N = 46). CDS traits, social and communication skills, repetitive behaviors, and sensory processing were all assessed via parent report. Results Children diagnosed with ADHD, autistic children, and Autistic+ADHD children exhibited similar levels of overall CDS traits. However, when explored separately, Autistic+ADHD children had higher cognitive CDS trait scores compared to children with ADHD alone. Both overall CDS traits and the cognitive subdomain were associated with greater social difficulties, particularly social withdrawal, higher levels of repetitive behaviors, and more sensory sensitivities, regardless of diagnosis. Conclusions Findings suggest that CDS traits may be an additional factor directly impact functional outcomes in both autistic and ADHD children. As such, clinicians should be assessing CDS traits in addition to other clinical domains associated with ADHD and autism when developing intervention plans for young neurodiverse children.

Effects of (S)-3,4-DCPG, an mGlu8 receptor agonist, on hippocampal long-term potentiation at perforant pathway-dentate gyrus synapses in prenatal valproic acid-induced rat model of autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a pervasive neurodevelopmental condition characterized by social interaction deficits, communication impairments, repetitive behaviors, and sensory sensitivities. While the etiology of ASD is multifaceted, abnormalities in glutamatergic neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity have been implicated. This study investigated the role of metabotropic glutamate receptor 8 (mGlu8) in modulating long-term potentiation (LTP) in a rat model of ASD induced by prenatal valproic acid (VPA) exposure. To induce an animal model with autism-like characteristics, pregnant rats received an intraperitoneal injection of 500 mg/kg of sodium valproate (NaVPA) on embryonic day 12.5. High-frequency stimulation was applied to the perforant path-dentate gyrus (PP-DG) synapse to induce LTP, while the mGlu8 receptor agonist (S)-3,4-dicarboxyphenylglycine (DCPG) was administered into the DG. The results revealed that VPA-exposed rats exhibited reduced LTP compared to controls. DCPG had contrasting effects, inhibiting LTP in controls and enhancing it in VPA-exposed rats. Moreover, reduced social novelty preference index (SNPI) in VPA-exposed rats was reversed by intra-DG administration of S-3,4-DCPG. In conclusion, our study advances our understanding of the complex relationship between glutamatergic neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and VPA-induced autism model. The findings suggest that mGlu8 receptor dysfunction plays a role in the impaired synaptic plasticity seen in ASD.

People with sensory processing sensitivity connect strongly to nature across five dimensions

Human connections to nature are critical to the sustainability of life on Earth. Nature connections are often linked with pro-environmental behaviors. Therefore, a better understanding of the nuances of human-nature connections can help inform policies and practices to advance sustainability. Connections to nature research has rarely investigated nuances like the nature connections of subpopulations or distinguished between types of nature connections. This article reports on an investigation of the subpopulation of highly sensitive individuals (HSPs), a group comprising about one-third of the general population thatexhibits higher levels of sensitivity to stimuli, greater depth of processing, and stronger emotional and physiological reactivity to both positive and negative stimuli than the general population, a suite of traits known as “sensory processing sensitivity” or “environmental sensitivity.” We assessed the nature connections of this group across five nature-connection types: material, experiential, cognitive, emotional, and philosophical. We found that HSPs hold deeper nature connections than less sensitive individuals with respect to all five connection types. Additionally, variability in nature-connection scores decreased as sensitivity increased, showing a significant trend. Future research can investigate links between nature connections and pro-environmental behavior in this population and the potential mediating role of specific psychological characteristics. We also recommend that researchers consider including sensitivity in future connections to nature assessments.

The Use of Dance as a Therapeutic Intervention for Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Purpose: This study sought to investigate the use of dance as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondary data or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collecting data from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to field research, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, the study relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easily accessed through the online journals and library. Findings: The findings reveal that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to the use of dance as a therapeutic intervention for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. Preliminary empirical review revealed that dance therapy holds promise in addressing the diverse needs of individuals with ASD, including social communication deficits, sensory sensitivities, and emotional regulation difficulties. By tailoring dance activities to accommodate individual preferences and needs, dance therapy provided a supportive and empowering environment for engagement, self-expression, and personal growth. While preliminary evidence suggested the efficacy of dance therapy, further research was deemed necessary to understand its therapeutic mechanisms fully. The study emphasized interdisciplinary collaboration to optimize the delivery of dance therapy interventions and enhance their effectiveness in supporting individuals with ASD in reaching their full potential and leading fulfilling lives. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Attachment theory, Socioecological theory and Embodied Cognition theory may be used to anchor future studies on therapeutic interventions for individuals with autism spectrum disorder. The study offered several recommendations that contributed to theory, practice, and policy. It suggested further research to advance theoretical frameworks and understand the mechanisms underlying dance therapy's effectiveness. In practice, the study recommended developing evidence-based guidelines, providing training for practitioners, and adopting person-centered approaches. Policy recommendations included advocating for policy changes, funding research, and integrating dance therapy into mainstream ASD interventions. Training initiatives, research collaboration, community engagement, and advocacy efforts were also emphasized to promote the integration and effectiveness of dance therapy for individuals with ASD in the past.

Interleukin-22 receptor 1-mediated stimulation of T-type Ca2+ channels enhances sensory neuronal excitability through the tyrosine-protein kinase Lyn-dependent PKA pathway

BackgroundInterleukin 24 (IL-24) has been implicated in the nociceptive signaling. However, direct evidence and the precise molecular mechanism underlying IL-24’s role in peripheral nociception remain unclear.MethodsUsing patch clamp recording, molecular biological analysis, immunofluorescence labeling, siRNA-mediated knockdown approach and behavior tests, we elucidated the effects of IL-24 on sensory neuronal excitability and peripheral pain sensitivity mediated by T-type Ca2+ channels (T-type channels).ResultsIL-24 enhances T-type channel currents (T-currents) in trigeminal ganglion (TG) neurons in a reversible and dose-dependent manner, primarily by activating the interleukin-22 receptor 1 (IL-22R1). Furthermore, we found that the IL-24-induced T-type channel response is mediated through tyrosine-protein kinase Lyn, but not its common downstream target JAK1. IL-24 application significantly activated protein kinase A; this effect was independent of cAMP and prevented by Lyn antagonism. Inhibition of PKA prevented the IL-24-induced T-current response, whereas inhibition of protein kinase C or MAPK kinases had no effect. Functionally, IL-24 increased TG neuronal excitability and enhanced pain sensitivity to mechanical stimuli in mice, both of which were suppressed by blocking T-type channels. In a trigeminal neuropathic pain model induced by chronic constriction injury of the infraorbital nerve, inhibiting IL-22R1 signaling alleviated mechanical allodynia, which was reversed by blocking T-type channels or knocking down Cav3.2.ConclusionOur findings reveal that IL-24 enhances T-currents by stimulating IL-22R1 coupled to Lyn-dependent PKA signaling, leading to TG neuronal hyperexcitability and pain hypersensitivity. Understanding the mechanism of IL-24/IL-22R1 signaling in sensory neurons may pave the way for innovative therapeutic strategies in pain management.