Exploring the association between mental imagery, sensory sensitivity, and autistic traits in autistic and non-autistic adults.

Researchers studied how well people can create mental pictures in their mind, how sensitive they are to sounds/textures/lights, and autistic traits in nearly 600 adults (half autistic, half not). They found that people with more autistic traits had trouble creating vivid mental images and were more sensitive to sensory input. However, having difficulty with mental imagery wasn't related to being sensory sensitive - these appear to be separate experiences rather than linked through the same brain mechanisms.

This cross-sectional study examined relationships between mental imagery, sensory sensitivity, and autistic traits in 595 autistic and non-autistic adults using standardized questionnaires. Results confirmed that higher autistic traits were associated with lower mental imagery vividness (r = -0.20 visual, r = -0.17 tactile) and higher sensory sensitivities (r = 0.76). Aphantasia (absence of mental imagery) was more common in the autistic group. However, contrary to hypotheses suggesting shared neural mechanisms, no meaningful association was found between mental imagery and sensory sensitivity, even when controlling for autistic traits.

This challenges theories proposing hyperexcitability of sensory cortices as a common mechanism underlying both phenomena.

Clinicians should assess mental imagery and sensory sensitivity as separate domains in autism. Therapeutic interventions relying on visualization may need modification for autistic clients. Sensory accommodations should be considered independently from imagery-based supports. These findings inform more targeted, individualized intervention planning.

Study relies on self-report questionnaires which may be subject to bias. Cross-sectional design prevents causal inferences. Sample characteristics and recruitment methods not fully described. Specific measures used not detailed in abstract.

Mental imagery vividness varies between individuals. Low levels of mental imagery have been associated with high levels of autistic traits, whilst autistic traits are known to positively correlate with sensory sensitivities. This would predict a negative correlation between sensory sensitivity and imagery. However, one recent study has suggested that mental imagery vividness may be positively associated with sensory sensitivities, possibly through the shared mechanism of hyperexcitability of the sensory cortices.

The aim of this paper was to explore this contradictory set of associations across two modalities (visual and tactile). We used standardised questionnaires to measure autistic traits, sensory sensitivities, and mental imagery vividness in a sample evenly comprised of autistic and non-autistic adults (n = 595). Higher autistic traits were significantly associated with lower mental imagery (r = - 0.20 and r = - 0.17 for visual and tactile imagery respectively), and a higher incidence of aphantasia was observed in the autistic group compared to the non-autistic group. In addition, higher autistic traits were significantly associated with increased sensory sensitivities (r = 0.76).

Importantly, we found negligible evidence of an association between mental imagery and sensory sensitivity, even when controlling for autistic traits. In the first study to directly explore autistic traits, sensory sensitivities and mental imagery, we conclude that there is no clear evidence to suggest that mental imagery and sensory sensitivity are related, challenging the idea of shared mechanisms of hyperexcitability of sensory cortex.