Why some children, including those with autism, react strongly to everyday sights and sounds
Neural mechanisms of sensory over-responsivity in children with and without ASD
This work looks at how young children's brains respond to ordinary sights, sounds, and touch to learn why some kids overreact, including children with autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11184506 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You or your child would take part in short, child-friendly sessions where researchers present everyday sounds and touches while recording brain activity with noninvasive methods. The team will compare children who have strong, distressing sensory reactions (with and without autism) to children who do not to find differences in neural responses. They will also collect brief questionnaires about anxiety, sleep, and daily functioning to connect brain measures with real-life effects. The goal is to identify specific brain processes linked to sensory over-responsivity to guide better supports in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are children aged 0–11 years who have strong, distressing reactions to ordinary sensory input, whether or not they have an autism diagnosis.
Not a fit: Children without sensory over-responsivity or whose symptoms are driven mainly by unrelated medical conditions are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to clearer targets for therapies that reduce distress from sensory over-responsivity and improve sleep, eating, and social participation.
How similar studies have performed: Previous brain studies link sensory processing to behavior, but applying these neural findings specifically to sensory over-responsivity in children—especially those with autism—is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarzlose, Rebecca — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Schwarzlose, Rebecca
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.