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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Published on: April 22, 2015

Altered cognitive processes shape tactile perception in autism.

Ourania Semelidou¹, Mathilde Tortochot-Megne Fotso¹, Adinda Winderickx¹

¹University of Bordeaux, Neurocentre Magendie, Bordeaux, France.

|June 10, 2026

Summary

Cognition influences tactile perception in autism models. The Fmr1-KO mouse showed altered sensory processing, with context-dependent decision-making impacting how they perceive touch.

Keywords:

Fmr1-KO mouse model autism categorization mouse neuroscience perceptual decision-making sensory history integration tactile perception

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Published on: December 7, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Sensory Processing

Background:

Altered sensory perception, particularly tactile, is characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
The relationship between cognitive processes and sensory perception in ASD remains poorly understood.
Investigating cognitive modulation of sensory perception offers insights into ASD mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

To explore how cognitive processes influence tactile perception in a genetic mouse model of autism.
To utilize a translational perceptual decision-making task to assess sensory-cognitive interactions.
To elucidate the role of cognition in shaping tactile experiences in autism.

Main Methods:

Utilized the Fmr1-KO mouse model, a genetic model for autism spectrum disorder.
Employed a translational perceptual decision-making task involving tactile stimuli of varying salience.
Analyzed choice consistency, discrimination performance, and sensory history integration across different stimulus intensities.

Main Results:

Fmr1-KO mice exhibited salience-dependent cognitive alterations affecting tactile performance.
Enhanced discrimination of low-salience stimuli but reduced facilitation for intermediate stimuli was observed.
Diminished integration of sensory history and dissociable attention deficits under high cognitive load were noted.

Conclusions:

Tactile perceptual alterations in this autism model reflect context-dependent information weighting and integration during decision-making.
Findings challenge traditional sensory-cognitive dichotomies in understanding autism.
Results suggest a nuanced interplay between cognition and sensory processing in ASD.