Taxonomy of Sensory Differences in Autism

 

The authors (Vanderbilt study) propose a hierarchical taxonomy to describe and refer to various sensory features of autism, which will help researchers to better understand the nature and impact of the sensory differences of autism and place future research targets at appropriate levels of analysis.

The 5 levels of proposed taxonomy are.

 
1. Sensory-related neural excitability

 Neural activity in response to peripheral sensory stimulation, measured via neuroimaging methods. 

This can help to identify the neural circuits and mechanisms underlying sensory differences in autism.

2. Perceptual sensitivity

Subjective experience of sensory stimuli, measured using self-report questionnaires or psychophysical methods. 

This can help to identify the specific sensory domains and features that are affected in autism.

3. Physiological and affective reactivity to sensory input 

Physiological responses that occur in the body in response to sensory stimuli (eg: changes in heart rate or skin conductance).

This can help to identify the autonomic and emotional responses that are associated with sensory differences in autism.

4. Behavioral responsivity to sensory input:

Emotional responses that occur in response to sensory stimuli (eg: anxiety or discomfort) 

This can help to identify the emotional and behavioral responses that are associated with sensory differences in autism.

 
5. Contextual modulation of sensory processing: 

Observable behaviors that occur in response to sensory stimuli (eg: seeking or avoiding sensory input) 

This can help to identify the functional impact of sensory differences in autism on daily life activities. 


Questions that arise after reading paper. 
- How can the proposed taxonomy be adapted or modified to better capture the sensory experiences of individuals with co-occurring conditions or comorbidities? 

- How can the proposed taxonomy be used to inform the development of personalized interventions or accommodations for individuals with sensory differences in autism?

Reference: He, J.L., Williams, Z.J., Harris, A. et al. A working taxonomy for describing the sensory differences of autism. Molecular Autism 14, 15 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13229-022-00534-1