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Are the non-classical auditory pathways involved in autism and PDD?
Aage R Møller1, Janet K Kern, Bruce Grannemann
1School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA. amoller@utdallas.edu
Neurological Research
|September 15, 2005
Summary
Individuals with autism exhibit abnormal sensory cross-modal interactions between auditory and somatosensory systems. This suggests atypical processing via non-classical sensory pathways in autism.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sensory Processing
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
Background:
- Autism is characterized by abnormal sensory perceptions.
- Non-classical sensory pathways may explain these atypical perceptions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that abnormal activation of non-classical sensory pathways contributes to sensory abnormalities in autism.
- To examine cross-modal sensory interactions in individuals with autism.
Main Methods:
- Twenty-one adults diagnosed with autism participated.
- Auditory stimuli (clicks) and electrical somatosensory stimuli were applied.
- Participants matched sound loudness with and without concurrent electrical stimulation.
Main Results:
- Electrical stimulation of the median nerve altered loudness perception of sounds.
- A statistically significant abnormal sensory cross-modal interaction was observed in individuals with autism.
Conclusions:
- Results support the hypothesis of abnormal cross-modal interaction between auditory and somatosensory systems in autism.
- This interaction involves non-classical (extralemniscal) auditory pathways.
- Autism is associated with atypical neural processing in sensory pathways.