Sensory processing challenges are a common concern for parents and clinicians. Researchers have made a significant breakthrough by identifying a distinct brain pattern in neurodiverse children who experience sensory over-responsivity. This condition causes intense physical or emotional reactions to everyday stimuli, such as loud noises or bright lights.
A multidisciplinary team of researchers used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to scan the brains of 83 neurodiverse children between the ages of 8 and 12. They found that children with sensory over-responsivity had a reduced connection between their brain’s exogenous networks, which process sensory information from the external environment. At the same time, their endogenous networks, responsible for attention and cognitive control, were highly active.
In contrast, neurodiverse children without sensory issues showed increased connectivity within their exogenous networks. The study found that this distinct separation of brain systems is linked to better emotional and behavioral outcomes. Children with sensory over-responsivity who are “resilient” in managing their emotions tend to have a stronger brain pattern, which may be an adaptive mechanism.
The researchers believe that when children are overwhelmed by sensory input, they compensate by upregulating their cognitive control networks to maintain composure. This unique neural signature could potentially serve as a biomarker for diagnosis and treatment of sensory over-responsivity.
Source: https://www.psypost.org/neurodiverse-youth-may-regulate-overwhelming-stimuli-by-turning-brain-activity-inward