RESUMO
AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) being a complex neurological and developmental disorder is also associated with autonomic nervous system dysfunction. Sudomotor nerve function is one highly sensitive index of sympathetic cholinergic activity and can be evaluated by measuring sympathetic skin response (SSR) to various stimuli. Studies reporting SSR to auditory stimulus among ASDs are limited and to the extent of our knowledge not assessed in the Indian scenario. The objective of the study was to assess and compare sympathetic sudomotor activity by evaluating SSR to auditory stimuli in children with and without ASDs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of eighty individuals were enrolled in the study, including forty children with ASD and forty typically developing (TD) children. SSR to auditory stimulus was assessed using a digitized data acquisition unit in a soundproof room, maintained at 23°C. SSR indices such as latent period (s), amplitude (mv), and habituation were analyzed and compared using appropriate statistical tests between the groups. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Habituation for SSR was statistically significantly lower (P < 0.001) in children with ASD (0.43 [0.21, 0.61]) compared to TD children (0.78 [0.65, 0.95]). Latent period was also statistically significantly higher in children with ASD (1.67 [1.37, 2.02]) compared to TD children (1.41 [1.2, 1.72]). However, there was no significant difference in amplitude values between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Children with ASDs exhibited slower habituation of SSR to auditory stimuli compared to healthy controls. This slower habituation process might be due to the persistent predominant state of sympathetic nerves, which, in turn, contributes to the atypical emotional and behavioral traits prevailing in ASDs.
RESUMO
Background and objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neuro-developmental disorder and it has been suggested that symptoms of ASD are associated with neural networks that regulate the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). However, the nature of autonomic atypicalities in ASDs remain largely unknown. Measures like Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and urinary Vanillylmandelic Acid (VMA) estimation are sensitive and non-invasive physiological and biochemical indicators of autonomic nervous activity. This study aimed to compare the physiological and biochemical autonomic indices in children with and without ASD. Materials and Methods: In this case-control study, 40 children with autism and 40 Typically Developing (TD) children were recruited. Measures of physiological autonomic index were assessed by the analysis of short term HRV, and the urinary levels of VMA estimation was used as a biochemical autonomic index. Results: Cardiac sympathetic activity assessed by Low Frequency (nu) of HRV was significantly higher in the ASD group in comparison with the TD group (p = 0.006). On the contrary, both the High Frequency (abs) and (nu) of HRV were found to be significantly lower in autistic children (p = 0.034 and p = 0.000) than controls. Autistic children also exhibited a significantly higher level (p = 0.049) of VMA concentration compared to TD children. Conclusion: The study concludes that children with ASD exhibit lower cardio-vagal activity as measured by HRV and increased sympathetic activity as assessed by urinary VMA compared to that of TD children. The core autistic symptoms exhibited by children with ASD could be due to the differences in baseline arousal or stress which might be associated with autonomic dysfunction. Further studies are needed to examine the association of this autonomic dysregulation with ASD symptoms and comorbidities.