Sensory processing associated with subcategories of restricted and repetitive behaviors in Japanese children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.

Background: Restricted and repetitive behavior (RRB) is a core symptom of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The structure of RRB subcategories and their relationship with atypical sensory processing in Japan are not well understood. This study examined subcategories of the RRB in Japanese children with ASD and explored their relationship with sensory processing.

Effect of virtual interactions through avatar agents on the joint Simon effect.

The joint Simon effect refers to inhibitory responses to spatially competing stimuli during a complementary task. This effect has been considered to be influenced by the social factors of a partner: sharing stimulus-action representation. According to this account, virtual interactions through their avatars would produce the joint Simon effect even when the partner did not physically exist in the same space because the avatars are intentional agents.

The First Use of the Washington Group Short Set in a National Survey of Japan: Characteristics of the New Disability Measure in Comparison to an Existing Disability Measure.

A Japanese national representative survey-the comprehensive survey of living conditions (CSLC)-included the Washington Group Short Set (WGSS) in 2022. This study aimed to characterize the WGSS in comparison to an existing disability measure (EDM), regarding the difference between disability prevalence defined by these two measures and the factors attributable to disagreements between them. A cross-sectional analysis using secondary data from the CSLC ( = 32,212) was conducted.

Classification of windswept posture in daily life using tri-axial accelerometers.

An asymmetric windswept posture is often seen in children with severe cerebral palsy (CP). However, it is still unclear how long children with CP remain in the windswept posture in daily life. Thus, we developed a triple-accelerometer system for detecting windswept posture.

People with higher systemizing traits have wider right hands.

Introduction: Various genetic mutations have been implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Some candidate genes for ASD are known to be related to signal transduction and may be involved in hand development as well as neurodevelopment. Therefore, although subtle, anatomical variations in hand configurations may be observed in individuals with ASD.

Temporal resolution relates to sensory hyperreactivity independently of stimulus detection sensitivity in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Researchers have been focusing on perceptual characteristics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in terms of sensory hyperreactivity. Previously, we demonstrated that temporal resolution, which is the accuracy to differentiate the order of two successive vibrotactile stimuli, is associated with the severity of sensory hyperreactivity. We currently examined whether an increase in the perceptual intensity of a tactile stimulus, despite its short duration, is derived from high temporal resolution and high frequency of sensory temporal summation.

Influence of aging on the relation between head control and hip joint kinematics during crossover stepping.

Falls in older individuals are a serious health issue in super-aged societies. The stepping reaction is an important postural strategy for preventing falls. This study aimed to reveal the characteristics of lateral stepping in response to mechanical disturbance by means of an analysis of the hip joint kinematics in the stepping leg and head stability during crossover steps.

Effects of focal cortical cooling on somatosensory evoked potentials in rats.

Although the focal brain cooling technique is widely used to examine brain function, the effects of cortical temperature at various levels on sensory information processing and neural mechanisms remain underexplored. To elucidate the mechanisms of temperature modulation in somatosensory processing, this study aimed to examine how P1 and N1 deflections of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) depend on cortical temperature and how excitatory and inhibitory inputs contribute to this temperature dependency. SEPs were generated through electrical stimulation of the contralateral forepaw in anesthetized rats.

A comprehensive multivariate analysis of the center of pressure during quiet standing in patients with Parkinson's disease.

Background: We hypothesized that postural instability observed in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) can be classified as distinct subtypes based on comprehensive analyses of various evaluated parameters obtained from time-series of center of pressure (CoP) data during quiet standing. The aim of this study was to characterize the postural control patterns in PD patients by performing an exploratory factor analysis and subsequent cluster analysis using CoP time-series data during quiet standing.

Methods: 127 PD patients, 47 aged 65 years or older healthy older adults, and 71 healthy young adults participated in this study.

Relative contribution of sensory and motor deficits on grip force control in patients with chronic stroke.

Objective: This study aimed to characterize grasping behavior in static (weight-dependent modulation and stability of control) and dynamic (predictive control) aspects specifically focusing on the relative contribution of sensory and motor deficits to grip force control in patients with chronic stroke.

Methods: Twenty-four chronic stroke patients performed three manipulative tasks: five trials of 5-s grasp-lift-holding, 30-s static holding, and vertical dynamic/cyclic oscillation of holding the object.

Results: Exerted static grip force on the paretic side exhibited statistically greater than that on the non-paretic side.

Temporal characteristics of facial ensemble in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: examination from arousal and attentional allocation.

Introduction: Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) show atypical recognition of facial emotions, which has been suggested to stem from arousal and attention allocation. Recent studies have focused on the ability to perceive an average expression from multiple spatially different expressions. This study investigated the effect of autistic traits on temporal ensemble, that is, the perception of the average expression from multiple changing expressions.

Use of General Health Examination and Cancer Screening among People with Disability Who Need Support from Others: Analysis of the 2016 Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions in Japan.

Research on preventive healthcare services among people with disability in Japan is scarce. This study aimed to (1) examine the relationship between disability and the use of general health examination (GHE) and cancer screening (lung, gastric, colorectal, breast and cervical cancer) and (2) explore the reasons for not using GHE. This cross-sectional study used secondary data from individuals aged 20-74 years ( = 15,294) from the Comprehensive Survey of Living Conditions of 2016.

Barriers to the Utilization of Low-Vision Rehabilitation Services among Over-50-Year-Old People in East and Southeast Asian Regions: A Scoping Review.

East and Southeast Asia (ESEA) are facing age-related eye health issues. Low-vision rehabilitation (LVR), which is a special rehabilitation service for individuals with vision impairment, is a promising solution for these health issues; however, poor accessibility to LVR services has been reported globally, including ESEA. Therefore, this scoping review aimed to summarize and understand the barriers to accessing LVR services in ESEA.

No differences in implicit hand maps among different degrees of autistic traits.

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or higher levels of autistic traits have atypical characteristics in sensory processing. Atypicalities have been reported for proprioceptive judgments, which are tightly related to internal bodily representations underlying position sense. However, no research has directly investigated whether self-bodily representations are different in individuals with ASD.

People with higher autistic traits show stronger binding for color-shape associations.

Non-synesthetes exhibit a tendency to associate specific shapes with particular colors (i.e., circle-red, triangle-yellow, and square-blue).

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of self-care regarding sensory issues among people with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Introduction: Issues in sensory processing (hereafter, sensory issues) associated with neurodevelopmental disorders are known to be particularly prominent from 6 to 9 years of age and are a critical issue in school life. These issues affect each individual's quality of life. Some of the issues are known to be relieved by self-care while some are not.

Exploring relationships between autistic traits and body temperature, circadian rhythms, and age.

The number of clinical diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is increasing annually. Interestingly, the human body temperature has also been reported to gradually decrease over the decades. An imbalance in the activation of the excitatory and inhibitory neurons is assumed to be involved in the pathogenesis of ASD.

Cortical oscillations and interareal synchronization as a preparatory activity for postural response.

Neural mechanisms of human standing are expected to be elucidated for preventing fallings. Postural response evoked by sudden external perturbation originates from various areas in the central nervous system. Recent studies have revealed that the corticospinal pathway is one of the key nodes for an appropriate postural response.

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of self-reported sensory issues in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Introduction: Individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and specific learning disorders (SLD) have various types of sensory characteristics.

Methods: This study investigated sensory issues in individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders using a web-based questionnaire for qualitative and quantitative analysis, categorized the contents of their three most distressful sensory issues, and evaluated their order of priority.

Results: Auditory problems were reported as the most distressing sensory issue among the participants.

Effect of colour-shape associations on visual feature discrimination.

Non-synesthetes exhibit a tendency to associate specific shapes with particular colours (i.e., circle-red, triangle-yellow, and square-blue).

A concept for emotion recognition systems for children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities based on artificial intelligence using physiological and motion signals.

Purpose: This study proposes a concept for emotion recognition systems for children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) based on artificial intelligence (AI) using physiological and motion signals.

Methods: First, the heartbeat interval (R-R interval, RRI) of a child with PIMD was measured, and the correlation between the RRI and emotion was briefly tested in a preliminary experiment. Then, a concept based on AI for emotion recognition systems for children with PIMD was created using physiological and motion signals, and an emotion recognition system based on the proposed concept was developed using a random forest classifier taking as inputs the RRI, eye gaze, and other data acquired using low physical burden sensors.

Effects of temporal properties of facial expressions on the perceived intensity of emotion.

A series of multiple facial expressions can be temporally perceived as an averaged facial expression in a process known as ensemble perception. This study examined the effect of temporal parameters on the perceived intensity of facial expression in each emotion, and how the effect varies with autistic traits in typically developing people. In the experiment, we presented facial expressions that switched from emotional to neutral expressions, and vice versa, for 3 s.

Hand-foot coordination is significantly influenced by motion direction in individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Generally, when individuals attempt to move two limbs rhythmically in the opposite direction (e.g., flex the left hand and extend the left foot along the sagittal plane), the movements tend to be instead performed in the same direction.

Relationships between autistic traits, taste preference, taste perception, and eating behaviour.

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder exhibit atypical taste perception and eating behaviours. However, little is known about the effect of autistic traits on eating behaviours in the general population. This study explored the relationships between autistic traits, taste preferences, taste perceptions, and eating behaviours among Japanese population using an online questionnaire survey.