Tactile sensitivity of normal and autistic children
Abstract
Many children with autistic spectrum disorders have unusual reactions to certain sensory stimuli. These reactions vary along a hyper- to hypo-responsivity continuum. For example, some children overreact to weak sensory input, but others do not respond negatively to even strong stimuli. It is typically assumed that this deviant responsivity is linked to sensitivity, although the particular stage of sensory processing affected is not known. Psychophysical vibrotactile thresholds of six male children (age: 8-12) who were diagnosed to have autistic spectrum disorders and six normal male children (age: 7-11) were measured by using a two-alternative forced-choice task. The tactile stimuli were sinusoidal displacements and they were applied on the terminal phalanx of the left middle finger of each subject. By using a forward-masking paradigm, 40- and 250-Hz thresholds of the Pacinian tactile channel and 40-Hz threshold of the Non-Pacinian I tactile channel were determined. There was no significant difference between the thresholds of autistic and normal children, and the autistic children had the same detection and masking mechanisms as the normal children. The sensory responsivity of each subject was tested by clinical questionnaires, which showed again no difference between the two subject groups. Furthermore, no significant correlations could be found between the questionnaire data and the psychophysical thresholds. However, there was a high correlation between the data from the tactile and emotional subsets of the questionnaires. These results support the hypothesis that the hyper- and hypo-responsivity to touch, which is sometimes observed in autistic spectrum disorders, is not a perceptual sensory problem, but may probably be emotional in origin.
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There is a strong correlation between scores from the touch and emotional subsets of the Sensory Profile questionnaire.
“have found a strong correlation between scores from the touch and emotional subsets of the Sensory Profile questionnaire (Guclu et al., 2007)”
From Behavioral, Perceptual, and Neural Alterations in Sensory and Multisensory Function in Autism Spectrum Disorder (2015) · cites this paper as Guclu et al., 2007
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- Authors
- Güçlü, B., Tanidir, C., Mukaddes, N. M., & Ünal, F.
- Affiliations
- Boğaziçi University (TR)
- Hacettepe University (TR)
- Corresponding author
- Güçlü, Burak
- Venue
- Somatosensory & Motor Research
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2007-01
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 1-2
- Pages
- 21-33
- ISSN
- 0899-0220 (ISSN-L)
- 1369-1651
- OpenAlex
- W2089459101
- Cited by
- 97
- References
- 54
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 1.14
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Somatosensory & Motor Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Tactile and Sensory Interactions
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, tactile sensitivity, vibrotactile thresholds, forward masking, emotional sensitivity, sensory processing
- MeSH terms
- Autistic Disorder, Child, Female, Humans, Male, Sensory Thresholds, Touch, Vibration, Somatosensory Disorders
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