Shafer et al 2021

Shafer et al 2021

• Autistics show reduced ability to integrate somatosensory feedback for precision manual motor behavior 
• Disrupting somatosensory feedback through tendon vibration increased force variability in typically developing individuals only, indicating distinct sensory feedback mechanisms in autism
• Sensorimotor deficits in autism may normalize by adolescence, impacting cognitive and social development 
• Autistics rely predominantly on visual feedback, suggesting deficits in parietal-cerebellar networks for integrating sensory feedback 
• Autistics predominantly rely on visual feedback for precision manual motor control 
• Somatosensory feedback integration is reduced in individuals with autism, leading to challenges in guiding motor behavior 
• Sensorimotor deficits in autism impact the ability to integrate somatosensory feedback, potentially affecting motor coordination
• Autistics show deficits in processing sensory feedback to adjust ongoing motor behaviors, with atypical reliance on visual and somatosensory feedback during motor tasks 
• Autistics exhibit reduced ability to integrate somatosensory feedback, leading to challenges in guiding precision manual motor behavior 
• The reliance on visual feedback is predominant in autistm, indicating deficits in parietal-cerebellar networks for integrating sensory feedback 

 

Shafer, R. L., Wang, Z., Bartolotti, J., & Mosconi, M. W. (2021). Visual and somatosensory feedback mechanisms of precision manual motor control in autism spectrum disorder. Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 13, 1-17