The Impact of Sensory Integration on Attention in Autism

Istituto per la Ricerca e l'Innovazione Biomedica

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autism

Treatments: Behavioral: Autism Spectum Conditions - intervention; Behavioral: Typical Development - intervention

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06872229

CNR-IRIB-PRO-2025-002

Details and patient eligibility

About

The study aims to examine how the mode of presentation of visual and auditory stimuli-separate or simultaneous-affects accuracy and reaction time in visual-auditory association in participants with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) compared to neurotypical individuals. The study aims to evaluate whether sensory overlap (simultaneous stimuli) increases cognitive load and decreases performance, while stimulus separation (separate presentation of visual and auditory stimuli) may facilitate processing and improve performance, especially in participants with ASC. Participants will be divided into two main groups: the first consisting of individuals with ASD and the second of neurotypical individuals. Each group will be exposed to two modes of stimulus presentation: simultaneous mode, in which visual and auditory stimuli are presented at the same time, and separate mode, in which visual and auditory stimuli are presented separately with a time interval between each. Participants will be required to complete visual-auditory association tasks. In addition to assessment of reaction time and accuracy, psychophysiological parameters will be recorded to measure cognitive load and physiological reaction to stimuli. The main hypotheses are that the simultaneous presentation of visual and auditory stimuli will increase cognitive load and reduce accuracy and reaction time in individuals with ASC, while the separate mode will improve performance, especially in the group with ASC. This study could provide important insights into how stimulus presentation mode affects learning and performance in participants with ASC, suggesting that stimulus separation could be a useful strategy for optimizing sensory processing and improving learning in educational and therapeutic settings.

Enrollment: 100 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 4 to 12 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of Autism
• QI ≥ 80

Exclusion criteria

• significant hearing or visual impairments
• presence of other medical disorders
• history of psychiatric diagnosis

Trial design

100 participants in 2 patient groups

Children with autism spectrum condition

Description:

Fifty ASC children with medium-high functioning, aged 4 to 12 years

Treatment:

Behavioral: Autism Spectum Conditions - intervention

Typical development

Description:

Fifty Typical development children, aged 4 to 12 years

Treatment:

Behavioral: Typical Development - intervention