# Neural mechanisms of sensory over-responsivity in children with and without ASD

> **NIH NIH R00** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $249,000

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Sensory over-responsivity (SOR), or strong negative reactions to and avoidance of innocuous sensory stimuli,
affects about one in five school-age children and about two-thirds of children with autism spectrum disorder
(ASD) and several other common neurodevelopmental disorders. Children with SOR experience considerable
short- and long-term distress and impairment including fear and anxiety, poor sleep and nutrition, isolating social
difficulties, and increased risk of mental illness. The cost of SOR in childhood is compounded by its disruption of
developmentally appropriate social and situational experiences and its deleterious effects on family functioning.
Despite its prevalence and impact on health and wellbeing, the causes of SOR are poorly understood and
existing treatment approaches have met with limited success. Identifying the specific neural mechanisms that
are disrupted in SOR could provide insights into its etiology and suggest promising approaches for developing
effective interventions. Studies of typical sensory processing have revealed basic neural mechanisms that
promote adaptive sensory responses, highlighting a powerful new translational approach to investigating the
neural bases of SOR. The goal of this K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award is to provide the applicant with
the training needed to test if these neural mechanisms are disrupted in children with SOR and to support her
continued success as an independent investigator. To achieve this goal, the applicant has assembled a
committee of exceptional mentors and experts who will provide her with training in clinical presentations and
assessments of ASD and SOR (Drs. Constantino, Sylvester, Green, and Pruett), administering functional MRI
scans to children with and without ASD and SOR (Drs. Green, Sylvester, Dapretto, Pruett, and Dosenbach),
applying multilevel models to complex datasets (Dr. Jackson), and developing skills for success as an
independent investigator at a major research institution (all committee members). The proposed training will
allow the applicant to test predictions about the relationship between one neural mechanism (suppression) and
SOR in children using existing data and to pilot a functional MRI task to assess a second neural mechanism
(surprise) in children during the K99 phase. Results from this work will inform the R00 phase, which will entail
testing whether three neural mechanisms (adaptation, suppression, and surprise) are attenuated in sensory and
fronto-limbic brain areas of children with SOR, both with and without ASD. This innovative research approach
will clarify whether predictive mechanisms are disrupted in children with SOR and localize disruptions to specific
brain areas, advancing scientific understanding of SOR and highlighting promising targets for interventions to be
tested in a R01. Collectively, the proposed training and research will provide the applicant with the data, tools,
and skills needed to launch a succe...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11137322
- **Project number:** 4R00HD109454-03
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Rebecca Schwarzlose
- **Activity code:** R00 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $249,000
- **Award type:** 4N
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11137322

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11137322, Neural mechanisms of sensory over-responsivity in children with and without ASD (4R00HD109454-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11137322. Licensed CC0.

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