Brain Activity and Behavioral Indicators of Sensory Processing (BABeIS)

Health Core ⟩ insp!re Lab ⟩

Sensory hyper- and hypo-reactivity are core features of autism, often evident early in infancy, however, the neurophysiological mechanisms behind these behaviors are not well understood. Sensory discrimination, which refers to the ability to distinguish between new and familiar stimuli, is crucial in early development, influencing both sensory processing and learning. While previous studies in older children show mixed results regarding sensory discrimination in autism, the link between neurophysiological discrimination and observable sensory reactivity remains unclear in infancy.

The study has three main goals: (1) to identify differences in neurophysiological discrimination in infants at high vs. low likelihood for autism, (2) to explore the association between neurophysiological discrimination and observable sensory reactivity behaviors, and (3) to examine potential sex differences in neurophysiological discrimination. Over two years, 60 infants aged 9-12 months at varying likelihood levels for autism will be assessed using an event-related potential (ERP) auditory oddball paradigm to measure their neurophysiological responses to auditory stimuli, while behavioral sensory reactivity will be evaluated through observations and parent reports. Advanced statistical methods will be used to capture nuanced patterns in the data.

The study’s long-term goal is to shed light on the origins of sensory processing differences in autism and their effects on developmental outcomes. Identifying early biomarkers of sensory reactivity could improve diagnostic tools and provide better support for autistic children, particularly by reducing misdiagnosis and facilitating timely intervention.

Funding

Type	Source	Number	Period
Federal	NIH - National Institute of Child Health and Human Development	F32HD115302	Jul 2025 – Jul 2027

USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy

1540 Alcazar Street, CHP 133, Los Angeles, CA 90089-9003

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The USC entry-level doctorate in occupational therapy (OTD) degree program (cost of attendance) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education® (ACOTE®) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). The USC entry-level master’s degree program (cost of attendance) is in Accreditation–Inactive status by ACOTE®. View our program’s ACOTE® standards public data. ACOTE® c/o the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.®, 7501 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 510E, Bethesda, MD 20814, (301) 652-AOTA, www.acoteonline.org.

Professional program graduates are eligible to sit for the national certification examination for the occupational therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy, Inc.® (NBCOT®), nbcot.org. Program results from the NBCOT can be found online at www.nbcot.org/Educators-Folder/SchoolPerformance.