__smbhome.uscs.susx.ac.uk_sc328_Desktop_Papers for SRO_WARD_Cognitive_Neuroscience_DEC_2018_author_copy.pdf (651.15 kB)
Individual differences in sensory sensitivity: a synthesising framework and evidence from normal variation and developmental conditions
For some people, simple sensory stimuli (e.g., noises, patterns) may reliably evoke intense and aversive reactions. This is common in certain clinical groups (e.g., autism) and varies greatly in the neurotypical population. This paper critically evaluates the concept of individual differences in sensory sensitivity, explores its possible underlying neurobiological basis, and presents a roadmap for future research in this area. A distinction is made between subjective sensory sensitivity (self-reported symptoms); neural sensory sensitivity (the degree of neural activity induced by sensory stimuli); and behavioral sensory sensitivity (detection and discrimination of sensory stimuli). Whereas increased subjective and neural sensory sensitivity are assumed to increase together, the status of behavioral sensory sensitivity depends on the extent to which the increased neural activity is linked to signal or noise. A signal detection framework is presented that offers a unifying framework for exploring sensory sensitivity across different conditions. The framework is discussed, in more concrete terms, by linking it to four existing theoretical accounts of atypical sensory sensitivity (not necessarily mutually exclusive): increased excitation-to-inhibition ratio; predictive coding; increased neural noise; and atypical brain connectivity.
History
Publication status
- Published
File Version
- Accepted version
Journal
Cognitive NeuroscienceISSN
1758-8928Publisher
Taylor & FrancisExternal DOI
Issue
3Volume
10Page range
139-157Department affiliated with
- Psychology Publications
Research groups affiliated with
- Sackler Centre for Consciousness Science Publications
- Sussex Neuroscience Publications
Full text available
- Yes
Peer reviewed?
- Yes
Legacy Posted Date
2018-12-04First Open Access (FOA) Date
2019-12-24First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date
2018-12-03Usage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedLicence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC