Exploring the Relationship of Autonomic and Endocrine Activity with Social Functioning in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Abstract
Several studies indicate that autonomic and endocrine activity may be related to social functioning in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), although the number of studies in adults is limited. The present study explored the relationship of autonomic and endocrine activity with social functioning in young adult males with ASD compared to young adult males without ASD. Autonomic and endocrine activity (i.e. heart rate, heart rate variability and salivary cortisol) were measured during rest and social interaction. No differences in heart rate, heart rate variability and cortisol between both groups were found during rest and social interaction. Repeated measures ANOVA's indicate a main effect of time for heart rate and cortisol, indicating an increase in these measures for both groups. An interaction effect between time and group was found for heart rate, with the ASD group showing a blunted increase in heart rate from rest to social interaction as compared to those without ASD. Future research should focus on replicating the present findings with larger sample sizes which also enables assessing inter-individual variability in autonomic and endocrine activity in relation to social functioning.
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The blunted heart rate response was previously suggested to be a manifestation of response saturation due to basal hyperarousal.
“and was previously suggested to be a manifestation of response saturation due to basal hyperarousal.”
From Functional autonomic nervous system profile in children with autism spectrum disorder (2014) · cites this paper as [17]
The blunted heart rate response pattern has been reported consistently in three studies examining autonomic nervous system reactivity to psychosocial challenges.
“This pattern has been reported consistently in three studies examining ANS reactivity to psychosocial challenges [15-17]”
From Functional autonomic nervous system profile in children with autism spectrum disorder (2014) · cites this paper as [17]
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References 80 · Cited by 55
- Authors
- Smeekens, I., Didden, R., & Verhoeven, E. W. M.
- Affiliations
- Radboud University Nijmegen (NL)
- Corresponding author
- Smeekens, I.
- Venue
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
- Published
- 2013-09-24
- Volume
- 45
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 495-505
- ISSN
- 0162-3257 (ISSN-L)
- 1573-3432
- OpenAlex
- W2127128701
- Cited by
- 55
- References
- 80
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 1.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Radboud Repository (Radboud University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, social functioning, autonomic nervous system activity, endocrine activity, heart rate, heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, social interaction, young men
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Autonomic Nervous System, Child Development Disorders, Pervasive, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Saliva, Case-Control Studies, Young Adult
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