# The Involvement of the Cerebellum in Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism

> **NIH NIH R36** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $45,516

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
 The vast majority of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have sensory processing atypicalities,
with sensory over-responsivity (SOR) in particular being a common challenge to their quality of life. SOR has
been associated with poor social adaptive, emotional and daily-life skills. Despite its impairing effect on the daily
functioning of ASD children, there are currently few evidence-based treatments for SOR.
 The proposed dissertation research will examine the role of cerebellar function in youth with ASD and
SOR. The cerebellum plays a key role in sensorimotor coordination and has been repeatedly reported to be
structurally and functionally abnormal in ASD individuals. Abnormalities in the ASD cerebellum have also been
linked to multiple ASD symptoms, including general sensory processing atypicalities. However, to our
knowledge, no studies to date have investigated the link between cerebellar function and SOR in ASD. The
proposed study will characterize functional alterations in the ASD cerebellum during sensory exposure, as well
as at rest, and examine how these atypicalities relate to SOR. Participants will consist of 60 ASD and 40 typically
developing (TD) participants, ages 8-17, matched for age and sex. The aims of the study include using functional
magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to investigate 1) atypicalities in cerebellar activation in response to mildly
aversive sensory stimulation in ASD compared to TD, 2) the association between cerebellar activation in ASD
and both behavioral and neural markers of SOR, and 3) how task-based (during sensory stimulation) and resting-
state cerebellar functional connectivity differs in ASD compared to TD youth and whether these differences relate
to within-ASD SOR severity. Characterizing the neural basis of SOR is an important step towards formulating
effective interventions to improve the everyday lives of children with ASD who experience SOR and ensuring
that treatment is personalized based on individual differences in ASD-related symptomatology. These aims are
consistent with the NIMH strategic plan goal of delineating functional development of brain regions and circuitry
to characterize developmental trajectories of mental illness.
 This R36 Fellowship will provide Melis Cakar, a Neuroscience graduate student at the University of
California, Los Angeles, with financial support and resources to carry out the proposed dissertation research and
advance the field’s knowledge on the cerebellum’s role in ASD. The applicant will be supported by mentorship
provided by co-advisors, Drs. Shulamite Green and Mirella Dapretto, and the dissertation committee members,
including Dr. Susan Bookheimer (referee), experts in neurodevelopmental, autism and SOR functional
neuroimaging research as well as by ample resources and infrastructure for research and training available to
the candidate at UCLA. The proposed project will prepare the candidate to pursue her career goal of bec...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10905843
- **Project number:** 1R36MH136769-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Melis E Cakar
- **Activity code:** R36 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $45,516
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-05-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10905843

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10905843, The Involvement of the Cerebellum in Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism (1R36MH136769-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10905843. Licensed CC0.

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