Sensory Over-Responsivity and ADHD: Differentiating Using Electrodermal Responses, Cortisol, and Anxiety
Shelly J Lane1, Stacey Reynolds, Leroy Thacker
1Department of Occupational Therapy, School of Allied Health Professions, Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, VA, USA.
Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience
|June 18, 2010
Summary
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and sensory over-responsivity (SOR) show distinct neuroendocrine and electrodermal responses, suggesting a link between sensory processing, anxiety, and ADHD subtypes.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Sensory modulation deficits are clinically associated with attention, arousal, and impulsivity issues.
- The relationship between sensory modulation disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains unclear.
- Sensory over-responsivity (SOR) is linked to anxiety, which is also associated with ADHD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between anxiety, SOR, and ADHD.
- To understand potential ADHD diagnostic subtypes based on sensory responsivity.
- To examine neuroendocrine, electrodermal, and behavioral characteristics in children with ADHD and SOR.
Main Methods:
- Compared children with ADHD and SOR (ADHDs), ADHD without SOR (ADHDt), and typical children (TYP).
- Utilized behavioral questionnaires for SOR and anxiety assessment.
- Employed a Sensory Challenge Protocol (SCP) with electrodermal measurements and salivary cortisol collection.
Main Results:
- Confirmed links between SOR and anxiety in both typical and ADHD children.
- Observed distinct patterns in salivary cortisol and electrodermal responsivity related to SOR in ADHD groups.
- Results suggest SOR and anxiety may be related to bottom-up processing differences.
Conclusions:
- ADHD should be considered alongside anxiety and sensory responsivity.
- Potential bottom-up processing differences and prefrontal cortex/hippocampal synaptic gating deficits may underlie these conditions.
- Findings support a more nuanced understanding of ADHD subtypes.
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