Higher Sensory Sensitivity is Linked to Greater Expansion Amongst Functional Connectivity Gradients.
Magdalena Del Río, Chris Racey, Zhiting Ren and 3 others
PMID 36227443WHAT IT FOUND
In young adults, higher sensory sensitivity linked to greater brain network separation between visual and default mode regions.
General autistic traits showed no such link. This suggests sensory issues relate to distinct connectivity patterns, but does not prove causation or apply to clinical diagnoses.
Key findings
01Higher sensory sensitivity scores correlated with greater distance between the visual and default mode networks in the brain.
02General autistic-like traits measured by the AQ did not show a significant correlation with this brain network distance.
03The link between sensory sensitivity and brain network separation remained significant after accounting for age, gender, and head motion.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The sample consisted of healthy young adults with no history of neurological or psychiatric problems, so results may not apply to individuals with clinical autism or other conditions. The study is cross-sectional and correlational, so it cannot determine whether sensory sensitivity causes these brain changes or vice versa. Head motion was a significant predictor in some models, suggesting that even minor movement in the scanner can influence these specific connectivity metrics. The Autism Spectrum Quotient has suboptimal psychometric properties and may not capture all aspects of autistic traits accurately. The sample was predominantly female and from a Chinese university, limiting generalisability to other genders and cultural backgrounds.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these brain connectivity patterns are diagnostic of autism. The study found no link between general autistic traits and these network changes, and the sample was entirely non-clinical. The findings relate to sensory sensitivity in healthy adults and do not confirm a mechanism for autism.