# Understanding early developmental trajectories of, and mechanisms underlying, sensory reactivity in infants at familial risk for ASD and ADHD

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS · 2024 · $80,500

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often show altered responsivity to incoming sensory stimuli (i.e.,
hyper-reactivity, hypo-reactivity, sensory seeking), which is associated with increased ASD symptom severity.
One possible reason underlying differences in sensory processing in ASD could be attributed to attention, mainly
differences in disengaging attention from task at hand and reorienting to other stimuli in one’s surroundings.
However, more research is needed to thoroughly understand the link between attention and sensory behaviors
in ASD. There is increasing research indicating that sensory reactivity differences also occur in other
neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ASD and
ADHD share some overlapping genetic factors and often co-occur. Yet little is known about the shared and
distinct early symptoms, including sensory behaviors, that precede the identification of these conditions and thus
may be useful in differential diagnosis. Additionally, similar to ASD, attentional differences are also reported in
children with ADHD and may potentially play a role in sensory reactivity. Thus, concurrent examination of sensory
behaviors, and the underlying role of attention in explaining some of these sensory differences, prior to diagnosis
of ASD or ADHD is vital to understanding the way in which sensory differences contribute to symptom
development. The goal of this study is to compare behavioral patterns of sensory reactivity between 12- and 24-
month-olds at risk for ASD (with an older sibling with ASD, n=60), ADHD (with a sibling/parent with ADHD, n=60),
and infants at low risk (no family history of ASD/ADHD, n=40), and to understand the link between attentional
disengagement and sensory response patterns, including whether such links are similar or different across
familial risk groups. Additionally, because altered sensory responsivity is linked with social communication and
self-regulatory difficulties, we will examine concurrent and predictive associations between sensory profiles
observed during early development and ASD and ADHD symptomatology. The proposed project will accomplish
its objectives by utilizing a prospective longitudinal design wherein sensory reactivity and attentional measures
will be administered at various time points (12 and 24 months) and symptom severity (i.e., dimensional ASD and
ADHD traits) will be analyzed at 12 and 24 months in infants identified as being at high and low risk for ASD and
ADHD. In order to increase the rigor of our research we will use both a parent-report sensory questionnaire
(Sensory Experiences Questionnaire) as well as an objective lab-based observational measure (Sensory
Processing Assessment) to examine sensory behaviors. More thorough examination of the link between
attention and sensory behaviors will be crucial as it will highlight potential mechanisms explaining some of the
sensory differences that a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10986866
- **Project number:** 1R03MH135307-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS
- **Principal Investigator:** Girija Suhas Kadlaskar
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $80,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-08 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10986866

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10986866, Understanding early developmental trajectories of, and mechanisms underlying, sensory reactivity in infants at familial risk for ASD and ADHD (1R03MH135307-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10986866. Licensed CC0.

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