The study
People with autism are often over- or under-sensitive to sensory stimuli. With a neuroscience study within the NAR, we are trying to better understand how the brains of people with autism process sensory stimuli.
For this project, we invited adult participants from the NAR to come to our labs at the Free University in Amsterdam. Here we measured their brain activity while they looked at pictures or listened to sounds. We did this with electroencephalography (EEG), a completely harmless and painless way to measure brain activity. This study was conducted by the Free University (VU) in Amsterdam and the Free University Medical Center (VUMC). The purpose of this study is to compare how sensory stimuli are processed in the brains of people with and without autism. For this study, we invited people with or without autism. For participants with autism, we also invited parents, caregivers or loved ones for a telephone interview.
Publications related to this research
- Li, Q., Weiland, R.F., Konvalinka, I., Mansvelder, H.D., Andersen T.S., Smit, D., Begeer, S., & Linkenkaer‑Hansen, K. (2022). Intellectually able adults with autism spectrum disorder show typical resting-state EEG activity.
- Weiland, R. F., Polderman, T. J., Smit, D. J., Begeer, S., & Van der Burg, E. (2022). No differences between adults with and without autism in audiovisual synchrony perception.
- Weiland, R.F., Polderman, T.J.C., Hoekstra, R.A., Smit, D.J.A & Begeer, S. (2020). The Dutch Sensory Perception Quotient-Short in adults with and without autism.
- Simpraga, S., Weiland, R.F., Mansvelder, H.D., Polderman, T.J.C., Begeer, S., Smit, D.J.A., Linkenkaer-Hansen, K. (2021). Adults with autism spectrum disorder show atypical patterns of thoughts and feelings during rest.
- Zijn hersenen van mensen met autisme hyperactief? door Wevers, J. (2020) Autisme Magazine, 47(1), 40-4
The NAR also conducts other research on stimulus processing, including:
- Werkman, M.F., Brouwer, S., Dijkxhoorn Y.M., van Berckelaer-Onnes, I.A., Reijneveld, S.A., Landsman, J.A., Begeer, S. (2020). The moderating effect of cognitive abilities on the association between sensory processing and emotional and behavioural problems and social participation in autistic individuals.
- Hohn, V.D., de Veld, D.M.J., Mataw, J.S.K., Van Someren, E.J.W & Begeer, S (2019). Insomnia Severity in Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder is Associated with sensory Hyper-Reactivity and Social Skill Impairment.
