Active Sensing and Autism

Neuroscience Concepts: 

Active Sensing

Active sensing refers to the process by which organisms actively control their sensory organs to acquire and process sensory information more effectively. In the context of multisensory integration, active sensing involves the coordination and adjustment of different sensory inputs based on motor actions to enhance the perception of the environment. For instance, moving the head or eyes to better see or hear a source of interest, or manipulating an object to better gauge its properties. This form of sensing is crucial because it allows an organism to integrate sensory information from various sources in a way that is aligned with current behavioral goals, thereby enhancing decision-making and interaction with the environment.

In autistics, active sensing and multisensory integration can manifest differently compared to NTs. Research suggests that autistics may experience variations in how sensory information is integrated, leading to differences in perceiving and responding to the environment. For example:

• Hypo- and Hypersensitivities: Autistic individuals often exhibit sensory sensitivities that can affect their active sensing behaviors. Hypersensitivities (over-responsiveness) might lead to avoidance of certain sensory inputs, while hyposensitivities (under-responsiveness) might lead to seeking out more intense sensory experiences. This can affect how they use active sensing in daily interactions.
• Attention and Filtering: Differences in attentional mechanisms in autism can influence active sensing. Autistic individuals might have difficulty filtering out irrelevant sensory stimuli, leading to challenges in focusing on specific sensory inputs necessary for effective multisensory integration.
• Motor Coordination and Planning: Difficulties with motor coordination and planning, commonly observed in autism, can also impact active sensing. If motor actions are less precise or more effortful, it may affect the ability to actively manipulate sensory inputs effectively.
• Neural Processing Differences: Studies have shown differences in neural processing pathways involved in sensory perception in autism. Research has noted that autistic individuals might process sensory inputs in a more localized manner, potentially affecting the global integration of multisensory information (Marco et al., 2011)
• Predictive Coding: Some theories, such as those involving predictive coding, suggest that autistics might have a different approach to anticipating sensory inputs, which impacts how sensory information is integrated and processed. This can lead to differences in how expected and unexpected stimuli are managed, further influencing active sensing behaviors.

These differences highlight the need for a nuanced understanding of how multisensory integration and active sensing operate in autism. They also underscore the importance of creating environments and interventions that are sensitive to the unique sensory processing characteristics of autistic individuals, thereby supporting better integration of sensory information and more effective interaction with the world.