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Accessing the Unspoken: A Systematic Review on the Use of Psychophysiology in Research on Persons With Severe or
Sien Vandesande1,2, Ömer Faruk Gönen3, Emma Vanroye1
1Parenting and Special Education, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Background:
Accessing the emotional experiences of individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities is difficult. Physiological measures offer a promising way to bypass communicative, cognitive, and motor limitations in this population. Yet this emerging field lacks a comprehensive overview of methods used, variables studied, and potential values and pitfalls.
Method:
A multidatabase systematic review (2008-2025), pre-registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024629708), was conducted following JBI and PRISMA guidelines. From 5495 records, studies were screened at title, abstract, and full-text levels, assessed with MMAT, and synthesized narratively.
Results:
Thirty-four studies met criteria, using methods such as eye-tracking, wearable sensors, infrared thermography, and electroencephalography to examine attention, social-emotional processing/engagement, and emotional responses.
Conclusions:
This review provides the first broad synthesis of psychophysiological research in this specific population, outlining methodological and practical considerations and supporting future physiological research aimed at enhancing person-centred care and quality of life.
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