Using sensory brain responses to find brain-based subtypes in autism and related conditions
Official title: Paradoxical Sensory Responses: A Clue Towards Understanding Biotypes in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Funded at Boston Children's Hospital · NIH-11314597 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project records brain activity with EEG in 3–4 year-old children with autism or sensory concerns to find brain-based groups that relate to behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $452,839 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS134948-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314597 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 3–4 with a diagnosis of autism, children whose caregivers report sensory processing concerns, and typically developing children for comparison are the intended participants.
✕Less likely to help
Older children, adults, or children without sensory concerns may not directly benefit from this study's immediate results.
What this research studies
If my child joins, researchers will place non-invasive EEG sensors on their head and play sounds to measure how their brain processes sensory input. They plan to enroll 150 children with ASD, 150 children with sensory concerns but not ASD, and 75 typically developing children, all aged 3–4 years. The team will compare the brain responses to behavior to look for patterns that group children into biological “biotypes” rather than only behavioral labels. The goal is to create objective biomarkers that could help tailor future treatments and better predict outcomes for young children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could produce brain-based markers that help personalize care and early interventions for young children with autism or sensory processing problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior EEG studies have shown measurable differences in sensory processing in autism, but using these signals to define reliable biological subtypes is still an emerging and not-yet-established approach.
Where this research is happening
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Boston Children's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levin, April R. — Boston Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Levin, April R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
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Understanding sensory responses in autism and related disorders
This study is looking at how young children, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental differences, respond to sensory experiences by using a safe and gentle brain scan, hoping to find ways to better understand and help them.
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Anxiety Management for Young Children with Autism
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Sleep problems in autism and daily functioning
A large study at a major university is looking at how sleep problems affect children with autism and their daily lives.
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Sleep and ASD: Understanding how sleep problems relate to autism symptoms
A Stanford team is studying whether sleep problems contribute to and worsen autism symptoms in children and how improving sleep could help.
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.