Multiple Sensory Processing Research Articles

Some children with idiopathic toe walking display sensory processing difficulties but not all: A systematic review.

Idiopathic toe walking (ITW) is a diagnosis for children who toe walk without another diagnosis known to cause toe walking. Recent research has suggested that children with ITW may have mild motor planning challenges and sensory processing differences. The primary aim of this systematic review was to determine whether children diagnosed with ITW have differences in their sensory processing compared to typically developing children. Secondary aims included determining how sensory processing was assessed in this population and documenting the broad clinometric and psychometric properties of any assessment tools. MEDLINE, CINAHL, AMED and Embase were searched for relevant literature in English. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they described children aged 3 and 18 with idiopathic toe walking and reported a sensory processing domain. Twelve articles met the inclusion criteria; however, only two papers included data permitting meta-analysis. Meta-analyses of vibration perception threshold using a random effect model were not significant (p = 0.31). Other data were synthesised by narrative and showed a high heterogeneity across multiple sensory processing domains. This study highlights that despite children with ITW often conceptualised as possessing sensory processing challenges, there is little evidence supporting this theory. Further research on sensory processing in children with this gait pattern is necessary.

Randomized comparison of W.A.R.A. (Wiring Affect with ReAttach) versus distraction: A pilot study assessing the efficacy of an ultrafast transdiagnostic intervention

BackgroundGenerally, neuropsychiatric patients share different symptoms across nosological categories, such as, amongst other, psychological distress, mood alterations, anxiety, and self-regulation disturbances.ReAttach is a novel psychological intervention with its key elements being external affect and arousal regulation, stimulation of multiple sensory processing, conceptualization, affective mentalization, and associative memory processing. ReAttach has been hypothesized to be effective in reducing symptom severity in different psychiatric conditions. Given the limited information currently available, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of main ReAttach elements called “Wiring Affect with ReAttach” (W.A.R.A.) on negative affect (N.A.), and to compare it with “Distraction,” another well-established affect-regulating strategy. MethodsWe used a single-blind, randomized controlled crossover equivalence design to compare the efficacy on N.A. regulation of W.A.R.A. versus Distraction in 101 patients with different neuropsychiatric disorders. ResultsThe results showed a significant difference (p < 0.001) in response to W.A.R.A. vs. Distraction, with W.A.R.A. being significantly more effective in regulating N.A., with a large effect size (dRMpooled = 2.38) and a high probability (95%) of success. LimitationsThe heterogeneity of the study population makes generalization and clear recommendations for specific patient groups difficult. The Numeric Rating Scale might have prevented detection of increased N.A. when the baseline scores were high. More in-depth research is needed to explore the W.A.R.A. technique and the extent of confounding variables such as the placebo effect. ConclusionsThe findings suggest that W.A.R.A. may be an effective, accessible, and brief intervention reducing negative affect. Although premature, these first results are encouraging.

A Robotic Framework to Facilitate Sensory Experiences for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Preliminary Study.

The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children is commonly accompanied by a diagnosis of sensory processing disorders. Abnormalities are usually reported in multiple sensory processing domains, showing a higher prevalence of unusual responses, particularly to tactile, auditory and visual stimuli. This paper discusses a novel robot-based framework designed to target sensory difficulties faced by children with ASD in a controlled setting. The setup consists of a number of sensory stations, together with two different robotic agents that navigate the stations and interact with the stimuli. These stimuli are designed to resemble real world scenarios that form a common part of one's everyday experiences. Given the strong interest of children with ASD in technology in general and robots in particular, we attempt to utilize our robotic platform to demonstrate socially acceptable responses to the stimuli in an interactive, pedagogical setting that encourages the child's social, motor and vocal skills, while providing a diverse sensory experience. A preliminary user study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed framework, with a total of 18 participants (5 with ASD and 13 typically developing) between the ages of 4 and 12 years. We derive a measure of social engagement, based on which we evaluate the effectiveness of the robots and sensory stations in order to identify key design features that can improve social engagement in children.

REATTACH FOR AUTISM: MAKING SENSE

Autism Spectrum Disorders are a complex heterogenous group of clinical characteristics of which lack of central coherence and an atypical overall style of inter-personal reactions (forms of vitality) belong to the core symptomatology. Due to the number of individuals diagnosed with ASD that world-wide is growing rapidly, many research projects aim at detecting the underlying causes or mechanism or prevention and early intervention programs. ReAttach is an intervention for children and adults with ASD that facilitates arousal regulation, multiple sensory processing, coherence, social cognitive training and active learning. The method can be defined as a broader spectrum therapy, embracing neurodiversity and aiming at optimal health and personal and inter-relational development. The aim of this paper is to describe the ReAttach procedure and treatment outcome for ASD and to explain why ReAttach the involvement of parents and partners is required. The effects in terms of changes in clinical presentation and Forms of Vitality of individuals with ASD suggest that ReAttach is an accessible and cost-effective tool to overcome the developmental arrest in ASD.

REATTACH FOR AUTISM: MAKING SENSE

Autism Spectrum Disorders are a complex heterogenous group of clinical characteristics of which lack of central coherence and an atypical overall style of inter-personal reactions (forms of vitality) belong to the core symptomatology. Due to the number of individuals diagnosed with ASD that world-wide is growing rapidly, many research projects aim at detecting the underlying causes or mechanism or prevention and early intervention programs. ReAttach is an intervention for children and adults with ASD that facilitates arousal regulation, multiple sensory processing, coherence, social cognitive training and active learning. The method can be defined as a broader spectrum therapy, embracing neurodiversity and aiming at optimal health and personal and inter-relational development. The aim of this paper is to describe the ReAttach procedure and treatment outcome for ASD and to explain why ReAttach the involvement of parents and partners is required. The effects in terms of changes in clinical presentation and Forms of Vitality of individuals with ASD suggest that ReAttach is an accessible and cost-effective tool to overcome the developmental arrest in ASD.

Abnormal functional connectivity and degree centrality in anterior cingulate cortex in patients with long-term sensorineural hearing loss.

Wide-ranging functional remodeling is involved in sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), which has been demonstrated to have accumulated risk of cognitive and emotional dysfunction. Anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) has close connections with the auditory area and plays a vital role in regulating the cognitive, emotional and auditory processing. However, the functional reorganization of the ACC and its associations with potential cognitive and emotional impairments involved in SNHL have never been explored. Thirty-five patients with long-term bilateral SNHL and thirty-five well-matched healthy controls were recruited for this study. We analyzed resting-state functional MRI data and neuropsychological test scores from these participants. Functional connectivity of the ACC subdivisions, voxel-wise degree centrality (DC) and intra-/internetwork connectivity were computed to evaluate the functional changes related to cognitive, emotional and multiple sensory functions. ANCOVA and post hoc analyses were conducted to identify differences between normal controls and patients for each measure. Widespread alterations of functional coupling with the subdivisions of the ACC were observed in regions involved in cognitive, emotional and multiple sensory processing, particularly within the cingulo-opercular network (CON), default mode network (DMN) and auditory network (AN) in the SNHL patients. Outstandingly increased DC was found in the ACC. Network analyses showed significant intra- and inter-network hypo-synchronization in the SNHL patients. Importantly, the functional alterations were associated with the anxiety states and the processing speed. The functional reorganization in the ACC and the disturbance of intrinsic multiple network functional connectivity among the CON, DMN, and AN were found in the SNHL patient, which might shed more lights on potential substrates underlying the cognitive and emotional impairments related to the SNHL.

Standing Postural Control in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Impairments in postural control affect the development of motor and social skills in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review compared the effect of different sensory conditions on static standing postural control between ASD and neurotypical individuals. Results from 19 studies indicated a large difference in postural control between groups across all sensory conditions. This review revealed sensorimotor and multiple sensory processing deficits in ASD. The tendency for individuals with ASD to be more susceptible to postural instability with use of visual information compared with somatosensory information suggests perinatal alterations in sensory development. There is further scope for studies on the use of sensory information and postural control to provide additional evidence about sensorimotor processing in ASD.

The Potassium Channel Interacting Protein 3 (DREAM/KChIP3) Heterodimerizes with and Regulates Calmodulin Function

Downstream regulatory element antagonistic modulator (DREAM/KChIP3), a neuronal EF-hand protein, modulates pain, potassium channel activity, and binds presenilin 1. Using affinity capture of neuronal proteins by immobilized DREAM/KChIP3 in the presence and absence of calcium (Ca(2+)) followed by mass spectroscopic identification of interacting proteins, we demonstrate that in the presence of Ca(2+), DREAM/KChIP3 interacts with the EF-hand protein, calmodulin (CaM). The interaction of DREAM/KChIP3 with CaM does not occur in the absence of Ca(2+). In the absence of Ca(2+), DREAM/KChIP3 binds the EF-hand protein, calcineurin subunit-B. Ca(2+)-bound DREAM/KChIP3 binds CaM with a dissociation constant of ∼3 μM as assessed by changes in DREAM/KChIP3 intrinsic protein fluorescence in the presence of CaM. Two-dimensional (1)H,(15)N heteronuclear single quantum coherence spectra reveal changes in chemical shifts and line broadening upon the addition of CaM to (15)N DREAM/KChIP3. The amino-terminal portion of DREAM/KChIP3 is required for its binding to CaM because a construct of DREAM/KChIP3 lacking the first 94 amino-terminal residues fails to bind CaM as assessed by fluorescence spectroscopy. The addition of Ca(2+)-bound DREAM/KChIP3 increases the activation of calcineurin (CN) by calcium CaM. A DREAM/KChIP3 mutant incapable of binding Ca(2+) also stimulates calmodulin-dependent CN activity. The shortened form of DREAM/KChIP3 lacking the NH(2)-terminal amino acids fails to activate CN in the presence of calcium CaM. Our data demonstrate the interaction of DREAM/KChIP3 with the important EF-hand protein, CaM, and show that the interaction alters CN activity.

Regional and cellular distribution of DREAM in adult rat brain consistent with multiple sensory processing roles

We used immunohistochemistry to map the recently discovered EF-hand protein, DREAM (downstream regulatory element antagonist modulator), and compare its expression in rat brain with that of other key neural proteins. DREAM immunoreactivity was most intense in cerebellar granular cortex. That expression pattern matches one reported for Kv4.2, an interaction partner of DREAM in regulation of potassium channels. On the other hand, the regional and cellular expression of DREAM in cerebellum was opposite to that of calbindin D 28k. Other loci for DREAM expression included the hippocampus and retrosplenial granular cortex, which share afferent and efferent connections. A notable trend, however, was the consistent appearance of DREAM at primary sites for sensory processing. These included the optic tract, superior colliculus, olfactory bulb, and several thalamic relay centers such as the anterior dorsal, medial geniculate, dorsolateral geniculate, ventral posteromedial and ventral posterolateral nuclei. Altogether, the results are consistent with multiple functions for DREAM, including a potential role in transfer of sensory information.