Ucsf Study Identifies Neural Signatures Of Sensory Overload In Children

In nan hunt for a measurement to measurement different forms of a information called sensory processing disorder, neuroscientists are utilizing imaging to spot really young brains process sensory stimulation.

Now, investigators astatine UC San Francisco person recovered a unique shape for overwhelm successful immoderate children who are overly delicate to sound, touch, and ocular information. The uncovering could 1 time thief clinicians refine treatments for kids who person beardown affectional and behavioral reactions, specified arsenic tantrums, to their sensory environment.

Sensory processing upset affects really nan encephalon understands and responds to sensory accusation but still lacks an charismatic aesculapian diagnosis. The study, which was funded by nan National Institutes of Health (NIH), appears successful nan Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders connected Nov. 21, 2025.

Researchers astatine UCSF studied 83 neurodivergent children betwixt nan ages of 8 and 12 years old. About half were highly delicate to definite noises, lights, aliases tactile sensations, while nan different half weren't. When scientists imaged their brains utilizing functional MRI, which measures encephalon activity by detecting changes successful humor oxygenation levels, they recovered important differences betwixt nan 2 groups.

For over-responsive children, nan activity successful encephalon networks that govern alleged "outward" functions, specified arsenic centrifugal skills and sensation, was low, while nan activity successful encephalon networks that modulate "inward" functions, for illustration cognition and impulse control, was high. This was precisely other of nan shape that scientists observed successful nan little delicate children.

"We deliberation that erstwhile you are overstimulated by sensory input, you compensate by dialing up your brain's inward-focused networks to summation self-control. You besides dial down your outward-focused networks to minimize sensory input," said Pratik Mukherjee, MD, PhD, a UCSF neuroradiology professor and co-senior writer of nan study pinch Elysa Marco, MD, a pediatric neurologist. "The kids who aren't emotionally overwhelmed by nan input - immoderate are moreover under-responsive to it - do nan opposite."

Past investigation indicates 5% to 12% of children successful nan U.S. person sensory processing challenges, and this whitethorn explicate overmuch of nan affectional volatility successful nan school-age population. 

Treatment for over-responsive children often focuses connected gradually exposing them to sensory input complete clip truthful they study to tolerate it. Mukherjee said nan team's findings could thief amended these therapies: "If we cognize an individual child's encephalon patterns and really that maps to emotion and behavior, we whitethorn beryllium capable to usage this to personalize treatments."