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Onset, Development, and Consequences of Autonomic and Sensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Award Number: RF1MH137151
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2025
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2030

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Onset, Development, and Consequences of Autonomic and Sensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Atypical sensory reactivity is pervasive and highly impairing in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Sensory reactivity contributes to core and associated ASD features, such as impaired social communication and elevated social fear, which are evident in infancy and predictive of later anxiety. Increasing theoretical and empirical data suggest that individuals with ASD may exhibit autonomic nervous system (ANS) hyperarousal at baseline (i.e., at rest), implying an elevated biological state primed for threat even during non-threatening situations. While ANS dysfunction has been posited as an underlying neurobiological mechanism contributing to specific features of the ASD phenotype, research has not examined the presence, onset, developmental trajectory, or developmental consequences of ANS function in infants at an elevated likelihood of ASD. Thus, this study proposes a longitudinal study of ANS function with data collected at 6, 9, 12, 24, and 36 months in infants at elevated likelihood for ASD given an older sibling diagnosed with ASD (EL-ASIBs) in comparison to low-likelihood infants to investigate ANS dysfunction as a potential mechanism of heterogeneity in core and associated features of ASD, including sensory processing, social communication, and social fear. The specific aims are to (1) identify the presence, onset, and developmental trajectory of baseline ANS dysfunction; (2) determine the developmental trajectory of ANS responsivity to sensory input and its relationship to baseline ANS (dys)function; and (3) identify how baseline ANS dysfunction and responsivity to sensory input predict social communication and social fear across infancy. This work will have tremendous impact by increasing our understanding of the neurobiological mechanistic underpinnings and biological pathways leading to ASD symptom progression that is essential to identify targets and timing of treatment for ASD.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $2,831,480 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA	1600 HAMPTON ST	COLUMBIA	SC	29208	RICHLAND	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	5/14/2026	EXTENSION WITH OR WITHOUT FUNDS	$2,831,480
														Subtotal = $2,831,480

Grand Total All Awards = $2,831,480

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Onset, Development, and Consequences of Autonomic and Sensory Dysfunction in Autism Spectrum Disorder

Award Number: RF1MH137151

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/15/2025

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2030

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