Review Article

Behavioural and Autonomic Regulation of Response to Sensory Stimuli among Children: A Systematic Review of Relationship and Methodology

Table 1

Summary of studies.
(a)

AuthorYearSample sizeAge (yr)Sample

Chang et al.2012505–12ASD: 25; TD: 25
Daluwatte et al.20152595–19ASD: 152; TD: 107
Lane et al.2010856–12TD: 36; TDs: 9; ADHDt: 18; ADHDs: 21
Mangeot et al.2001565–13ADHD: 26; TD: 30
Matsushima et al.2016696–12ASD: 37; TD: 32
McCormick et al.2014872–4ASD: 54; TD: 33
McIntosh et al.1999383–9SMD: 19; TD: 19
Miller et al.20121766–12SMD: 37; ADHD: 28; SMD/ADHD: 12;
TD: 30
Schaaf et al.2003154–8SMD: 9; TD: 6
Schaaf et al.2010835–12SMD: 43; TD: 40
Schaaf et al.2015886–9ASD: 59; TD: 29
Schoen et al.20091024–15ASD: 38; SMD: 31; TD: 33
Su et al.2010314–8SMD: 14; TD: 17
Woodard et al. 2012162-3ASD: 8; TD: 8

Note. ASD: autism spectrum disorder; TD: typically developing; TD: typically developing with atypical sensory behaviour; ADHD: attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder; ADHDt: attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder with typical sensory behaviour; ADHDs: attention-deficit, hyperactivity disorder with atypical sensory behaviour; SMD: sensory modulation disorder. Did not assess for specific atypical sensory behaviour (i.e., overresponsivity, underresponsivity, and seeking/craving). Reported and assessed specifically on sensory overresponsivity only. Assessed for sensory modulation disorder but did not report on specific atypical sensory behavior. Classified sensory modulation disorder based severity of atypical sensory behavioural symptoms (mild, moderate, and severe).
(b)

AuthorYearBehavioural measurePhysiological measure
Autonomic branchAutonomic measureSpecific measure

Chang et al.2012Sensory Processing
Measure- Home Form
SNSSkin conductanceAmplitude, magnitude, onset latency, habituation

Daluwatte et al.2015Sensory ProfileNot specificPupillary light reflex (PLR)Diameter, PLR latency, constriction time, redilation time, constriction amplitude

Lane et al.2010Sensory Overresponsivity ScaleSNSElectrodermal responseTonic, nonspecific response, magnitude of orienting response, mean response

Mangeot et al.2001Short Sensory ProfileSNSElectrodermal responseMagnitude of largest response

Matsushima et al.2016Short Sensory Profile- JapanesePNSHeart rate variabilityHigh-frequency (0.05–1.04 Hz)

McCormick et al.2014Short Sensory ProfileSNSElectrodermal activityTonic, magnitude of response, no response

McIntosh et al.1999Short Sensory ProfileSNSElectrodermal responseMean magnitude, amplitude of largest response, no. of responses

Miller et al.2012Short Sensory ProfileSNSElectrodermal responseMean peak magnitude of response, amplitude of largest peak

Schaaf et al.2003Short Sensory ProfilePNSCardiac vagal tone(Frequency not specified)

Schaaf et al.2010Short Sensory ProfilePNSCardiac vagal tone0.25–1.04 Hz

Schaaf et al.2015Short Sensory ProfilePNSRespiratory sinus arrhythmia0.15–0.50 Hz
SNSPreejection periodQ-wave

Schoen et al.2009Short Sensory ProfileSNSElectrodermal activitySkin conductance level, orienting response, amplitude, magnitude

Su et al.2010Sensory Profile;
Evaluation of Sensory Processing
SNSElectrodermal responseMean magnitude

Woodard et al. 2012Sensory Profile-Infant/ToddlerNot specificHeart rate reactivityHeart rate

Note. PNS: parasympathetic nervous system; SNS: sympathetic nervous system.Parent-/caregiver-reported measures; from an ANS dually innervated organ.
(c)

AuthorYearProcedures
Laboratory ParadigmConditions

Chang et al.2012Sensory Challenge ProtocolRest, Stimulation, Recovery
Daluwatte et al.2015PLR StimulationRest, Stimulation, Recovery
Lane et al.2010Sensory Challenge ProtocolRest, Stimulation, Recovery
Mangeot et al.2001Sensory Challenge ProtocolStimulation
Matsushima et al.2016Tactile and Auditory
Sensory Paradigm
Rest, Stimulation, Recovery
McCormick et al.2014Sensory Probe ParadigmRest, Stimulation, Recovery
McIntosh et al.1999Sensory Challenge ProtocolStimulation
Miller et al.2012Sensory Challenge ProtocolStimulation
Schaaf et al.2003Sensory Challenge ProtocolRest, Stimulation
Schaaf et al.2010Sensory Challenge ProtocolRest, Stimulation, Recovery
Schaaf et al.2015Sensory Challenge ProtocolRest, Stimulation, Recovery
Schoen et al.2009Sensory Challenge ProtocolRest, Stimulation, Recovery
Su et al.2010Sensory Challenge ProtocolStimulation
Woodard et al. 2012Multi-Sensory ParadigmRest, Stimulation

(d)

AuthorYearSensory behaviour differencesANS differences

Chang et al.2012ASD has significantly higher sensory behavioural problems compared to TDStronger SNS activation at rest and in response to auditory stimuli in ASD more TD

Daluwatte et al.2015Significant atypical sensory behaviour in ASD compared to TDNo significant difference in autonomic outcomes

Lane et al.2010Significant overresponsive sensory behaviour in ADHD compared to TDSignificantly higher EDR (SNS) in ADHD at recovery conditions

Mangeot et al.2001Significant sensory behavioural problems in ADHD compared to TDGreater EDR (SNS) magnitude in stimulation conditions

Matsushima et al.2016ASD has significantly higher sensory behavioural problems compared to TDSignificantly lower HRV-HF (PNS) at rest in ASD compared to TD

McCormick et al.2014Significantly different sensory behaviour between ASD and TDNo significant difference in any measure of EDA

McIntosh et al.1999SMD was differentiated from TD based on severity of sensory behavioural problemsSMD failed to respond to sensory stimuli; more EDR and magnitude; and slower habituation, compared to TD

Miller et al.2012Significant group differences when compared with TD on the incidence of sensory behavioural problemsSMD has greater reactivity to sensory stimuli; SMD has different autonomic patterns compared to ADHD

Schaaf et al.2003SMD was differentiated from TD based on severity of sensory behavioural problemsSMD has significantly lower CVT (PNS) compared to TD

Schaaf et al.2010SMD was differentiated from TD based on severity of sensory behavioural problemsSMD approached significantly lower CVT (PNS) reaction compared to TD; severe SMD has significantly lower CVT at baseline and during stimulation compared to other groups

Schaaf et al.2015SMD was differentiated from TD based on severity of sensory behavioural problemsASD has less variable PNS functions (less change from sensory domains) during stimulation conditions compared to TD

Schoen et al.2009Different patterns of sensory behaviour between ASD, SMD, and TDASD has lower baseline and reactivity SNS functions; SMD has higher SNS reactivity on the first stimulus presentation

Su et al.2010SMD has more sensory behavioural problems compared to TDSMD has larger EDR (SNS) peak amplitude

Woodard et al. 2012ASD has more hypersensitive and less hyposensitive sensory behavioural problemsASD has more hypersensitive and less hyposensitive autonomic patterns of responses to sensory stimulus

Note. HRV-HF: heart rate variability-high frequency; EDR: electrodermal response; EDA: electrodermal activity; CVT: cardiac vagal tone.
(e)

AuthorYearCorrelation summary
Clinical groupTypical group

Chang et al.2012Total score and SC baseline ()
Total score and tone amplitude ()
No significant correlations  
Total score and SC baseline ()
Total score and tone amplitude ()

Daluwatte et al.2015Sensory behaviour and PLR intensity at 872.1 () and 8721.1 (); and PLR adaptation ()No significant correlations  
Sensory behaviour and PLR intensity at 872.1 () and 8721.1 (); and PLR adaptation ()

Lane et al.2010

Mangeot et al.2001

Matsushima et al.2016Sensory behaviour and resting state HRV-HF ()No significant correlations  
Sensory behaviour and resting state HRV-HF ()

McCormick et al.2014No significant correlations (no data provided)No significant correlations (no data provided)

McIntosh et al.1999

Miller et al.2012

Schaaf et al.2003

Schaaf et al.2010

Schaaf et al.2015

Schoen et al.2009No significant correlations (no data provided)No significant correlations (no data provided)

Su et al.2010

Woodard et al. 2012Total sensory behaviour and HR at stimulus presentation ()No significant correlations  
Total sensory behaviour and HR at stimulus presentation ()

Note. Sig at ; Sig at ; SC: skin conductance; PLR: pupillary light reflex; HRV-HF: heart rate variability-high frequency; HR: heart rate.