Sensory Reactivity in Autism: Integrating Behavioural, Affective, Physiological, and Neural Dimensions.

This research review looked at how autistic people process sensory information differently. It found that many autistic children are over-sensitive to sounds, touch, and other sensations, which can lead to anxiety and stress. Some children seek out sensory experiences as a way to cope. The research shows these sensory differences affect daily life, mental health, and family stress. The findings suggest sensory challenges are real and important for understanding autism.

This comprehensive review synthesizes research on sensory reactivity differences in autism across multiple levels of analysis. The study reveals that autistic individuals show elevated and variable sensory responsivity, with hypersensitivity predicting internalizing symptoms and sensory seeking behaviors linked to externalizing issues. Key findings include domain-specific perceptual differences (reduced tactile adaptation, altered motion processing, enhanced pitch discrimination) rather than general hyper/hyposensitivity patterns. Physiological evidence points to autonomic dysregulation, while neuroimaging reveals excitation-inhibition imbalances and altered connectivity patterns.

These sensory differences are consistently linked to mental health outcomes, adaptive functioning, and quality of life across cultures and developmental stages.

Supports comprehensive sensory assessment addressing multiple domains. Interventions should target specific sensory differences rather than general approaches. Consider sensory seeking as coping strategy rather than problematic behavior. Address autonomic regulation and connectivity patterns through physiological interventions.

As a review paper, findings depend on quality of included studies. Limited correspondence between questionnaire measures and psychophysical findings suggests measurement challenges. Sample size not reported, and specific methodological details of reviewed studies not provided in abstract.

The goal of this paper is to synthesise recent research on sensory reactivity differences in autism across the lifespan, using He et al.'s sensory taxonomy as an organising framework. The review aims to address how behavioural, affective, perceptual, physiological, and neural levels of processing contribute to sensory reactivity differences, and how these differences relate to broader outcomes such as mental health, adaptive functioning, and quality of life. Across behavioural studies, autistic youth show elevated and variable sensory responsivity, with hypersensitivity predicting internalising symptoms and sensory seeking linked to externalising behaviours. Affective reactivity is consistently elevated across cultures, associated with anxiety and caregiver stress, and sensory seeking may function as a coping mechanism.

Psychophysical research reveals domain‑specific perceptual differences-such as reduced tactile adaptation, altered motion noise exclusion, and enhanced pitch discrimination-rather than overarching hyper‑ or hyposensitivity. These perceptual findings often show limited correspondence with questionnaire‑based measures. Physiologically, autonomic dysregulation is implicated, or pharmacological approaches show emerging promise. Neuroimaging evidence highlights excitation-inhibition imbalance and altered connectivity, including dissociations between exogenous and endogenous networks in sensory‑reactive autistic children.

Across multiple levels of processing, sensory reactivity differences in autism are robust, heterogeneous, and meaningfully linked to mental health and daily functioning. Key conclusions include: • Sensory hyperreactivity predicts internalising challenges, while sensory seeking may reflect regulatory strategies. • Perceptual differences are domain‑specific • Physiological and neural evidence converges on autonomic dysregulation and differences in connectivity patterns.