Denise DuBois1, Stephanie H Ameis2, Meng-Chuan Lai3, Manuel F Casanova4, Pushpal Desarkar5. 1. Adult Neurodevelopmental Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Rehabilitation Science Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 2. Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Research Imaging Centre, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 3. Child and Youth Mental Health Collaborative at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Autism Research Centre, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom; Department of Psychiatry, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA. 5. Adult Neurodevelopmental Services, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: pushpal.desarkar@camh.ca.
Abstract
PURPOSE: This review article summarizes original scientific research published to date on interoception in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sensory processing has been shown to be atypical in ASD, yet physiological processing and subjective experience of internal sensation processing, namely interoception, has not been reported sufficiently in research or clinical settings. BACKGROUND: There is a small but growing body of scientific research on interoception in ASD, which is relevant to understanding the behavioral and cognitive characteristics inherent in this condition, and may provide a foundation for clinical interventions such as biofeedback, pain management, and brain stimulation techniques. METHODS: A literature review of original research was performed using major scientific databases. RESULTS: Interoception, which occurs due to multisensory connections and integration of internal afferents in cortical and subcortical areas, is atypical in ASD, but the degree and directionality of this abnormality is not yet clear due to the heterogeneity of the condition. Between-group interoceptive differences in individuals with and without ASD have been repeatedly demonstrated, with a slight tendency towards hyporeactivity in interoceptive awareness in individuals with ASD. SIGNIFICANCE: Multidimensional research combining neuroimaging with psychophysiological and self-report measures guided by a clear theoretical model is necessary to understand how interoceptive differences link to the behavioral and cognitive characteristics of ASD. Sensory processing models and autism theory should also be updated to incorporate these recent findings.
PURPOSE: This review article summarizes original scientific research published to date on interoception in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Sensory processing has been shown to be atypical in ASD, yet physiological processing and subjective experience of internal sensation processing, namely interoception, has not been reported sufficiently in research or clinical settings. BACKGROUND: There is a small but growing body of scientific research on interoception in ASD, which is relevant to understanding the behavioral and cognitive characteristics inherent in this condition, and may provide a foundation for clinical interventions such as biofeedback, pain management, and brain stimulation techniques. METHODS: A literature review of original research was performed using major scientific databases. RESULTS: Interoception, which occurs due to multisensory connections and integration of internal afferents in cortical and subcortical areas, is atypical in ASD, but the degree and directionality of this abnormality is not yet clear due to the heterogeneity of the condition. Between-group interoceptive differences in individuals with and without ASD have been repeatedly demonstrated, with a slight tendency towards hyporeactivity in interoceptive awareness in individuals with ASD. SIGNIFICANCE: Multidimensional research combining neuroimaging with psychophysiological and self-report measures guided by a clear theoretical model is necessary to understand how interoceptive differences link to the behavioral and cognitive characteristics of ASD. Sensory processing models and autism theory should also be updated to incorporate these recent findings.
Authors: Michelle D Failla; Lauren K Bryant; Brynna H Heflin; Lisa E Mash; Kimberly Schauder; Samona Davis; Madison B Gerdes; Amy Weitlauf; Baxter P Rogers; Carissa J Cascio Journal: Autism Res Date: 2020-03-05 Impact factor: 5.216
Authors: Ana Cabrera; Jacek Kolacz; Guillem Pailhez; Andrea Bulbena-Cabre; Antonio Bulbena; Stephen W Porges Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2017-11-28 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Han-Xue Yang; Hui-Xin Hu; Yi-Jing Zhang; Yi Wang; Simon S Y Lui; Raymond C K Chan Journal: Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci Date: 2021-05-13 Impact factor: 5.270