Interoception in Autism Spectrum Disorder: A review.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Autism Research
• Sensory Processing

Background:

• Sensory processing differences are common in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• Interoception, the awareness of internal bodily sensations, is under-researched in ASD.
• Understanding interoception in ASD may inform interventions like biofeedback and pain management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review original scientific research on interoception in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
• To highlight the insufficient reporting on interoception in ASD research and clinical settings.
• To synthesize current knowledge on the physiological and subjective aspects of internal sensation processing in ASD.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature review of original scientific research was conducted.
• Major scientific databases were utilized to identify relevant studies.
• The review focused on studies investigating interoception in individuals with and without ASD.

Main Results:

• Interoception is atypical in individuals with ASD, though the exact nature is unclear due to heterogeneity.
• Consistent between-group differences in interoception between ASD and neurotypical individuals have been observed.
• A trend towards hyporeactivity in interoceptive awareness is noted in individuals with ASD.

Conclusions:

• Further multidimensional research is needed to link interoceptive differences to ASD characteristics.
• Integrating neuroimaging, psychophysiology, and self-report measures is crucial for a comprehensive understanding.
• Current sensory processing models and autism theories should be updated to include findings on interoception.