Shelly J. Lane

Rhythms in immunoreactive melatonin in the retina and harderian gland of rats: Persistence after pinealectomy

Immunoreactive melatonin levels were measured in the retina and Harderian gland of adult male rats throughout a 24 hour period. The animals were maintained under a light:dark cycle of 14:10 (lights on at 0600h). In intact animals, immunoreactive melatonin values in both organs exhibited a 24h rhythm with peak levels being measured at 0800h, 2 hours after lights on. Pinealectomy significantly increased peak levels at 0800h in both the retina and the Harderian gland. Gonadectomy abolished the peak retinal melatonin levels at 0800h. Likewise, continual light exposure for 1 week depressed the melatonin peak in the retina but not in the Harderian gland.

THE STABILITY AND EQUIVALENCE RELIABILITY OF THE FUNCTIONAL INDEPENDENCE MEASURE FOR CHILDREN (WeeFIM)

The reliability of the Functional Independence Measure for Children (WeeFIM) was examined in 37 non‐disabled children and 30 children with disabilities, from 12 to 76 months of age. The WeeFIM is derived from the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and includes 18 items involving six functional subscalcs. Stability was assessed by administering the WeeFIM instrument to each childs caregiver on two occasions separated by 7 to 14 days. Intraclass correlation co‐efficients (ICCs) for individual items ranged from 0.90 to 0.99. The ICC for the six WeeFIM subscales ranged from 0.94 for social cognition to 0.99 for transfers and locomotion. The ICC value for total WeeFIM test‐retest reliability was 0.98 for children with disabilities and 0.99 for children without disabilities. Equivalence reliability was examined by comparing ratings obtained when using personal assessment with ratings collected during a telephone interview. No statistically significant differences were found for individual items, subscale scores or total WeeFIM values.

Startle modulation studies in autism.

We studied acoustic startle response and its modulation by prestimulation and by short-term and long-term habituation in 54 autistic patients and 72 normal age-matched controls. The startle response was measured as the amplitude and onset latency of the integrated orbicularis oculi EMG. There were no consistent significant differences between the autistic and control subjects in startle modulation by inhibitory or facilitatory prestimulation, short-term habituation of startle amplitude, long-term habituation of either startle amplitude or latency, or unmodulated startle amplitude. Differences between autistic and control subjects were limited to prolongation of unmodulated startle onset latencies in the autistics in all of the experimental paradigms (significantp= .005 only in the context of short-term habituation) and a statistically significant (p<.05) slower rate of short-term habituation of startle onset latency in the autistic patients, relative to the controls. Results provide only limited support for hypotheses of brainstem pathophysiology and no support for hypotheses of cerebellar pathophysiology in autism.

Sensory Over-Responsivity and ADHD: Differentiating Using Electrodermal Responses, Cortisol, and Anxiety

Deficits in sensory modulation have been linked clinically with impaired attention, arousal, and impulsivity for years, but a clear understanding of the relationship between sensory modulation disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has proven elusive. Our preliminary work suggested that patterns of salivary cortisol and electrodermal responsivity to sensation may be linked to different groups of children with ADHD; those with and without sensory over-responsivity (SOR). Additionally, SOR has been linked to anxiety, and anxiety has been linked to ADHD. A clearer understanding of the relationship between anxiety, SOR, and ADHD may support a better understanding of ADHD diagnostic subtypes. We examined neuroendocrine, electrodermal and behavioral characteristics and sought to predict group membership among 6- to 12-year-old children with ADHD and SOR (ADHDs), ADHD and no SOR (ADHDt), and typicals (TYP). Behavioral questionnaires were completed to document SOR and anxiety. Lab testing used a Sensory Challenge Protocol (SCP) with concurrent electrodermal measurement and the collection of cortisol prior to and following the SCP. Results substantiated links between SOR and anxiety, in both TYP and ADHD children. Results suggests that ADHD should be considered in conjunction with anxiety and sensory responsivity; both may be related to bottom-up processing differences, and deficits in prefrontal cortex/hippocampal synaptic gating.

Sensory overresponsivity and anxiety in typically developing children and children with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: cause or coexistence?

OBJECTIVE. To explore the relationship between sensory overresponsivity (SOR) and anxiety in children with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and typical development. METHOD. Path analysis was used to examine the primary SOR model (Green & Ben-Sasson, 2010) using both physiological and behavioral data. RESULTS. The magnitude of physiological responses to sensory challenge was a mediator variable between predictors (baseline arousal and attention) and outcomes (anxiety and physiological recovery). Behavioral SOR was correlated with anxiety but not with physiological variables. CONCLUSION. The intensity or magnitude of sensory responsivity mediates the relationship between baseline arousal and attention and outcome anxiety and physiologic recovery from sensory challenge. Behavioral tools used to measure SOR do not reflect physiological responsiveness; this mismatch warrants further investigation. SOR can prevent children from participating in the occupations of childhood; the greater the understanding of SOR, the more successful occupational therapy practitioners will be in developing effective interventions.

Parasympathetic Functions in Children with Sensory Processing Disorder

The overall goal of this study was to determine if parasympathetic nervous system (PsNS) activity is a significant biomarker of sensory processing difficulties in children. Several studies have demonstrated that PsNS activity is an important regulator of reactivity in children, and thus, it is of interest to study whether PsNS activity is related to sensory reactivity in children who have a type of condition associated with sensory processing disorders termed sensory modulation dysfunction (SMD). If so, this will have important implications for understanding the mechanisms underlying sensory processing problems of children and for developing intervention strategies to address them. The primary aims of this project were: (1) to evaluate PsNS activity in children with SMD compared to typically developing (TYP) children, and (2) to determine if PsNS activity is a significant predictor of sensory behaviors and adaptive functions among children with SMD. We examine PsNS activity during the Sensory Challenge Protocol; which includes baseline, the administration of eight sequential stimuli in five sensory domains, recovery, and also evaluate response to a prolonged auditory stimulus. As a secondary aim we examined whether subgroups of children with specific physiological and behavioral sensory reactivity profiles can be identified. Results indicate that as a total group the children with severe SMD demonstrated a trend for low baseline PsNS activity, compared to TYP children, suggesting this may be a biomarker for SMD. In addition, children with SMD as a total group demonstrated significantly poorer adaptive behavior in the communication and daily living subdomains and in the overall Adaptive Behavior Composite of the Vineland than TYP children. Using latent class analysis, the subjects were grouped by severity and the severe SMD group had significantly lower PsNS activity at baseline, tones and prolonged auditory. These results provide preliminary evidence that children who demonstrate severe SMD may have physiological activity that is different from children without SMD, and that these physiological and behavioral manifestations of SMD may affect a childs ability to engage in everyday social, communication, and daily living skills.

Sensory Processing, Physiological Stress, and Sleep Behaviors in Children with and without Autism Spectrum Disorders

Sleep problems have been frequently identified in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It has been proposed that some sleep problems are due to sensory sensitivity. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between physiologic responses to sensation and sleep in children with and without ASD. Fifty-five children participated in the study (ASD, n = 27; typical, n = 28). All children participated in a sensory challenge laboratory protocol. Electrodermal reactivity and salivary cortisol were used as physiological indicators of sensory responsivity. Behavioral data were collected using the Sensory Profile and the Child Behavior Checklist. Results confirmed that children with ASD have a higher prevalence of atypical sensory behaviors and sleep disturbances than typical children. Behavioral and physiological measures were able to predict good sleepers versus poor sleepers with 85.7% accuracy, suggesting that atypical sensory behaviors are important to consider in relation to sleep deficits in children.

A Review of Cardiac Autonomic Measures: Considerations for Examination of Physiological Response in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) is responsible for multiple physiological responses, and dysfunction of this system is often hypothesized as contributing to cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses in children. Research suggests that examination of ANS activity may provide insight into behavioral dysregulation in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), however, there is wide variability in samples, methods, and measures reported. The purpose of this review is to describe frequently reported cardiac ANS measures; discuss theoretical models linking ANS measures with neurological structures; and synthesize pediatric literature using ANS measures on typical and ASD samples. Such a synthesis will provide researchers with a foundation for the use of ANS cardiac methods and measures in ASD research.

Play and Assistive Technology Issues for Infants and Young Children with Disabilities: A Preliminary Examination.

Play forms an important foundation for the development of skills in all children. Unfortunately, for infants and children with disabilities, real play may be absent or diminished, replaced by therapies and/or special instruction. Infants and young children with disabilities experience barriers to play that are created by the nature of their disability. Parents of these children may feel they do not have time to play, given the demands of intervention and education. Alternatively, they may not know how to facilitate play with a child with a disability. Assistive technology has the potential to open up play options to children with disabilities and their parents, if our “definition” of assistive technology is broadened. This article examiness “low-tech” assistive technology options addressing positioning, communication, learning, mobility, and self-care barriers. A discussion of the combination of low-tech assistive technology with high-tech assistive technology is presented with a case example. Finally, policy issues that interfere with the ability to include low- and high-tech assistive technology in early intervention are addressed, and recommendations for overcoming these barriers are considered.

The Moderating Role of Sensory Overresponsivity in HPA Activity: A Pilot Study with Children Diagnosed with ADHD.

Objective: To determine if sensory overresponsivity (SOR) is a moderating condition impacting the activity of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis in children with ADHD. Method: Participants were children with (n = 24) and without ADHD (n = 24). Children in the ADHD group were divided into SOR (ADHDs) and non-SOR (ADHDt) groups using the Sensory Over-Responsivity Inventory. All children participated in the Sensory Challenge Protocol. Salivary cortisol was used as a measure of HPA activity. Two prechallenge and seven postchallenge samples of saliva were taken. Cortisol patterns between groups were examined using a mixed-effects ANOVA. Results: There was a borderline significant difference found between the ADHDt and ADHDs group (p = .056) and a significant difference between ADHDt and the typical group (p = .014). Conclusion: Preliminary results support the premise that SOR may be a moderating variable used to create subgroups in diagnostic populations such as ADHD. (J. of Att. Dis. 2010; 13(5) 468-478)