Sympathetic-Parasympathetic Interaction and Externalizing Problems in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Rachel M Fenning, Stephen A Erath, Jason K Baker and 4 others
PMID 31397547WHAT IT FOUND
In 52 children with autism, behavior problems were most likely when skin conductance and heart-rate calming responses matched.
Low skin conductance reactivity with little heart-rate calming reduction, and high skin conductance reactivity with strong reduction, both were linked to more problems.
Key findings
01Skin conductance reactivity and heart-rate variability reactivity interacted in predicting externalizing behavior problems.
02Lower skin conductance reactivity was linked to more externalizing problems when heart-rate variability withdrawal was low or moderate.
03Higher heart-rate variability withdrawal was linked to more externalizing problems when skin conductance reactivity was high.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
Only 52 of 77 children had usable data. Children with missing data had lower estimated IQ (mean 69.60 versus 82.73), and only 50% of children with IQ below 76 provided usable data, compared with 81% of children with higher IQ. The sample was described as modest for testing interactions, so the authors said the findings need replication in a larger sample. The study measured physiology and behavior at one time, so it cannot show that autonomic patterns caused externalizing problems. Children with motor impairment that would prevent task engagement were excluded, so the results do not address those children. Four children did not meet ADOS-2 ASD classification but were retained after a clinical best estimate. Hydration, body mass, and motor skills were not measured, and only one challenging task was used.
Declared interests
The supplied metadata lists NIH extramural research support. The article text provided does not include a conflicts-of-interest or funding declaration.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that changing skin conductance or heart-rate variability responses will reduce externalizing behavior problems. The study was observational, used a single mirror-tracing task, and did not test an intervention.