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Updated: Aug 24, 2026

Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
Noradrenergic and adrenergic functioning in autism
R B Minderaa1, G M Anderson, F R Volkmar
1Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
A neurochemical assessment of noradrenergic and adrenergic functioning was carried out with autistic patients and normal control individuals. Norepinephrine and related compounds were measured in autistic (n = 17 unmedicated, 23 medicated; age range 9-29 years old) and normal controls (n = 27; age range 9-36 years old). Plasma levels and urinary excretion of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxy-phenylglycol (MHPG) were measured, as were urinary excretion rates of norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (EPI), and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA). No significant group mean differences were seen between the autistic and control groups. In both the autistic and control groups urinary excretion rates of norepinephrine and epinephrine were substantially higher in the afternoon-evening (5-11 PM) compared to the overnight (11 PM-7 AM) collection period. Based on our neurochemical assessment, marked abnormalities in basal noradrenergic functioning do not appear to be present in autism.
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