A multidimensional investigation of the relationship between skin-mediated somatosensory signals, emotion regulation and behavior problems in autistic children

Abstract

IntroductionAutistic children may have abnormal sensory perception, emotion dysregulation and behavior problems. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between skin-mediated somatosensory signals and emotion/behavior difficulties in autistic children and adolescents, in comparison typically developing peers (TDP).MethodsThirty-eight autistic children and adolescents and 34 TDP completed a multidimensional assessment consisting of the measurement of somatosensory thresholds of touch, pain and temperature, a task on emotion knowledge and parent-reported questionnaires on sensory reactivity, emotion regulation and behavior.ResultsAutistic children had higher pain sensitivity, less sensory reactive behaviors and more behavior problems than their TDP. In contrast to TDP, several somatosensory thresholds of autistic children correlated with emotion regulation and behavior problems.DiscussionSensory dysfunction may affect the development of emotional processing and behavior in autistic children and adolescents. This knowledge can lay the foundation for future studies on co-occurring alterations in corresponding neural networks and for the implementation of early interventions, including sensory rehabilitation therapy, for promoting regulated behaviors in autistic children and adolescents.

Proprioception, Emotion and Social Responsiveness in Children with Developmental Disorders: An Exploratory Study in Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy and Different Neurodevelopmental Situations

“…Our study adds novel evidence that highlights proprioception as a paramount element linked with emotional function in children. Sensory processing features have previously been pointed out as key elements for emotion regulation and behavior [ 39 ] and for the development of social skills during childhood and adolescence in children with ASD [ 48 , 49 , 50 ]. In particular, the perception of bodily signals has been pointed out as a facilitator of the use of strategies to regulate emotions and the ductile selection of the adequate behavior according to social context in neurotypical individuals [ 51 ].…”

“…Items of the Subscale Movement explore reactivity to high-proprioceptive/vestibular situations, such as anxiety when feet are separated from the floor, fear of falling or dislike of activities where the head is upside-down. This tool has good psychometric properties (Cronbach’s α = 0.70–0.90) [ 38 ] and has been used previously in children with ASD and children with CP [ 39 , 40 ].…”

“…Both the original version and the Spanish version used in this study present good psychometric properties for each of the tasks (α = 0.81–0.88 and 0.82–0.94, respectively) [ 41 , 42 ]. The EMT has been previously used for studying emotion knowledge in children with ASD and children with CP [ 39 , 43 ].…”

“…High scores in the subscale emotional lability/negativity indicate emotional dysregulation, whereas high scores in the subscale emotional regulation and in the total score indicate a good capacity for regulating emotions. This tool has high psychometric properties (emotional regulation α = 0.83, emotional lability α = 0.96) [ 44 ] and has been used previously for studying emotion regulation in children with ASD and children with CP [ 39 , 43 ].…”

Interoception in Autism: A Narrative Review of Behavioral and Neurobiological Data

“… 44 , 76 , 82–85 These may manifest as allodynia (extreme sensitivity to normal non-painful tactile stimulation that causes intense pain), paradoxical heat sensation (where gentle cooling is perceived as hot or burning), or abnormal sensitivity to pain (altered pain responses or lower thresholds to thermal or pain stimuli). 84 , 86 One biological theory of these discrepancies suggests that autistic people experience most stages of pain processing differently (pain perception, transmission, expression, modulation, and/or suppression), 42 , 76 , 83 and these differences may relate to unmyelinated small fiber density 87 and attenuated thalamocortical signaling. Such pain processing differences may significantly affect their perception of and responses to somatosensory stimuli, such as hypoesthesia (reduced sensitivity to touch).…”