Understanding how senses, stress, and attention affect children with autism
Neurobiobehavioral markers of stress, saliency, and multisensory dysfunction in autism
This project aims to understand how sensory processing, attention to important cues, and stress reactions are connected in children with autism, and how these factors might contribute to feelings of anxiety.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | San Diego State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Diego, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11089526 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Children with autism often experience sensory differences, which can make everyday interactions challenging. This project wants to learn more about how these sensory differences, along with how children notice important things in their environment, might lead to increased stress. We will look at how these factors are linked to feelings of anxiety in children with autism. By studying these connections, we hope to better understand why some children with autism experience more stress and anxiety.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children between 7 and 10 years old are ideal candidates for this project.
Not a fit: Patients outside the 7-10 age range or those not diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to help children with autism manage stress and anxiety related to their sensory experiences.
How similar studies have performed: While sensory abnormalities and anxiety are known to co-occur in ASD, the specific underlying neural and behavioral mechanisms linking multisensory integration, salience processing, and stress reactivity are not yet clear.
Where this research is happening
San Diego, United States
- San Diego State University — San Diego, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jao Keehn, R. Joanne — San Diego State University
- Study coordinator: Jao Keehn, R. Joanne
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.