Mapping sensory sensitivity in autism

Sensory perception in autism is strikingly heterogeneous, with individuals showing both hypo- and hypersensitivity across different sensory domains. While sensory differences are widely recognized as a core feature of autism, the structure and underlying patterns of this variability remain poorly understood. Previous studies have yielded mixed findings, often examining sensory processing in isolation within single domains, thereby limiting a comprehensive understanding of sensory sensitivity in autism.

We compiled psychophysical data from 107 autistic and 408 age- and IQ-matched non-autistic individuals across 32 experimental conditions spanning multiple perceptual domains, including size, brightness, orientation, pitch, and face processing. Two complementary statistical approaches were used: segmented regression and a Bayesian hierarchical model.

Despite substantial inter- and intra-individual variability, both models revealed a consistent domain-specific pattern: on average, autistic individuals showed reduced sensitivity to faces and speech, while performance on basic non-social tasks was comparable to or exceeded that of the comparison group. Bayesian modelling further indicated that social relevance, rather than domain alone, accounted for the primary source of divergence between groups.

This study focused on sensory sensitivity thresholds and did not assess perceptual biases or changes in subjective appearance of the stimuli. A full account of perception in autism requires considering these broader alterations.

The current findings suggest that sensory differences in autism reflect a structured perceptual profile shaped by social relevance, stimulus complexity, and individual variability. The results highlight the importance of individualized sensory profiling and may inform both theoretical models and personalized approaches to intervention in autism.