Emotional Dysfunction and Interoceptive Challenges in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Developmental Science

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is frequently associated with sensory processing deficits, including the interoceptive system.
• Interoception, the sense of the internal bodily state, is crucial for emotional experience and is often impaired in individuals with alexithymia.
• Understanding the interplay between interoception, emotional regulation, and alexithymia in ASD is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association and interrelation between interoceptive confusion, alexithymia, and emotional regulation in adults with ASD compared to neurotypical controls.
• To examine the mutual impact of these variables within the ASD group.
• To identify predictors of interoceptive confusion in adults with ASD.

Main Methods:

• A comparative study design involving 33 adults with ASD and 35 neurotypical adults.
• Utilized a series of validated questionnaires to assess interoceptive confusion, emotional clarity, emotional regulation, and alexithymia.
• Statistical analyses including group comparisons and correlational analyses were performed.

Main Results:

• Significant differences were found between groups, with the ASD group exhibiting dysfunctional emotional regulation, impaired interoception, and higher levels of alexithymia.
• In the ASD group, significant correlations were observed between interoceptive confusion, emotional clarity, and alexithymia.
• Emotional clarity, alexithymia, and autism diagnosis collectively explained 61% of the variance in interoceptive confusion.

Conclusions:

• The findings confirm distinct patterns of interoceptive processing, emotional regulation, and alexithymia in adults with ASD.
• Interoceptive confusion is significantly associated with alexithymia and emotional clarity in ASD.
• Interoceptive training holds promise for enhancing emotional clarity and reducing alexithymia in individuals with ASD, informing clinical treatment planning.