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Cited by 120Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchChild Nutrition and Feeding IssuesGenetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

A systematic review of physiological reactivity to stimuli in autism

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Lydon, Sinéad, Healy, Olive, Reed, Phil, Mulhern, Teresa, Hughes, Brian M., Goodwin, Matthew S.·2016·Developmental Neurorehabilitation
DOI 10.3109/17518423.2014.971975
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of abnormal behavioural responses to a variety of stimuli among individuals with autism has led researchers to examine whether physiological reactivity (PR) is typical in this population. This article reviewed studies assessing PR to sensory, social and emotional, and stressor stimuli in individuals with autism. METHODS: Systematic searches of electronic databases identified 57 studies that met our inclusion criteria. Studies were analysed to determine: (a) participant characteristics; (b) physiological measures used; (c) PR to sensory, social and emotional or stressor stimuli; (d) the relation between PR and behavioural or psychological variables and (e) baseline physiological activity. A novel measure of methodological quality suitable for use with non-randomized, non-interventional, psychophysiological studies was also developed and applied. RESULTS: Individuals with autism were found to respond differently than typically developing controls in 78.6%, 66.7% and 71.4% of sensory, social and emotional, and stressor stimulus classes, respectively. However, this extant literature is characterized by variable and inconsistent findings, which do not appear to be accounted for by varying methodological quality, making it difficult to determine what specific factors differentiate individuals with autism who present with atypical PR from those who do not. CONCLUSIONS: Despite this uncertainty, individual differences in PR are clearly present in autism, suggesting additional research is needed to determine the variables relating to PR among those with ASD and to examine the possible existence of physiological subtype responders in the population.

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Authors
Lydon, S., Healy, O., Reed, P., Mulhern, T., Hughes, B. M., & Goodwin, M. S.
Affiliations
  • Trinity College Dublin (IE)
  • Swansea University (GB)
  • Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway (IE)
  • Northeastern University (US)
Corresponding author
Healy, Olive
ORCID
Venue
Developmental Neurorehabilitation
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2014-10-30
Volume
19
Issue
6
Pages
335-355
ISSN
  • 1363-8491 (ISSN-L)
  • 1751-8423
  • 1751-8431
DOI
10.3109/17518423.2014.971975
OpenAlex
W2086426219
Cited by
120
References
116
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 1
FWCI
0.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-nc-sa
Locations
  • Developmental Neurorehabilitation (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-sa)
  • Arrow@dit (Dublin Institute of Technology) (submittedVersion)
  • ARAN (University of Galway Research Repository) (Ollscoil na Gaillimhe – University of Galway) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • Trinity's Access to Research Output (TARA) (Trinity College Dublin) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, physiological reactivity, psychophysiology, sensory stimuli, social stimuli, emotional stimuli, methodological quality, individual differences
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Brain, Electroencephalography, Emotions, Heart Rate, Humans, Hydrocortisone, Saliva, Sensation, Social Adjustment, Stress, Psychological

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