Kerley Lachlan, Meredith Pamela, Harnett Paul
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
School of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Sunshine Coast University, Maroochydore, Queensland, Australia.
Br J Occup Ther. 2022 Nov;85(11):900-909. doi: 10.1177/03080226221089845. Epub 2022 Jun 13.
Autonomic nervous system functioning is theorised to underpin individual differences in sensory processing, with a small amount of supporting evidence. Despite recognition of the need to measure the balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic activity, most studies have measured only one of these systems. This study investigated whether sensory processing patterns are related to autonomic balance for young adults at rest and in response to a sensory-based stressor.
In this cross-sectional laboratory study, 100 young adults completed the adolescent/adult sensory profile. Heart rate variability and pre-ejection period were recorded before, during and after a coldpressor task.
Relationships between sensory processing patterns and autonomic balance varied by gender. In males, low sensory thresholds were generally related to a state of reciprocal sympathetic activation. In females, low thresholds were associated with greater autonomic reactivity in response to the coldpressor.
This study showed, for the first time in young adults, that sensory processing patterns may be linked to patterns of autonomic balance. Therapists should be aware that young men with low sensory thresholds may be more likely than others to exhibit a resting state of sympathetic hyperarousal and further research should investigate whether this impacts their daily functioning and wellbeing.
自主神经系统功能被认为是感觉加工个体差异的基础，不过仅有少量支持证据。尽管人们认识到需要测量交感神经和副交感神经活动之间的平衡，但大多数研究仅测量了其中一个系统。本研究调查了年轻人在静息状态下以及对基于感觉的应激源做出反应时，感觉加工模式是否与自主神经平衡有关。
在这项横断面实验室研究中，100名年轻人完成了青少年/成人感觉概况评估。在冷加压任务之前、期间和之后记录心率变异性和射血前期。
感觉加工模式与自主神经平衡之间的关系因性别而异。在男性中，低感觉阈值通常与交感神经相互激活状态有关。在女性中，低阈值与对冷加压刺激的更大自主神经反应性有关。
本研究首次表明，在年轻人中，感觉加工模式可能与自主神经平衡模式有关。治疗师应意识到，感觉阈值低的年轻男性可能比其他人更有可能表现出交感神经兴奋的静息状态，进一步的研究应调查这是否会影响他们的日常功能和幸福感。
