Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40148783›Full record

ArticleJournal of neurodevelopmental disorders2025

Modifying quantitative sensory testing to investigate tactile sensory function and behavioral reactivity in children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: establishing feasibility and testing sex, autism, and self-injury effects.

Jaclyn Gunderson, Emma Worthley, Breanne Byiers, Alyssa Merbler, Andrea Huebner, Deanna Hofschulte, Jasmine Lee, Catherine Riodique, Frank Symons

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of neurodevelopmental disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Pain experience and perception in individuals with Snijders Blok-Campeau syndrome.Frontiers in pain research (Lausanne, Switzerland) · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Jaclyn GundersonDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA. gunderson.jaclyn@mayo.edu.
Emma WorthleyCollege of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Burton Hall, 178 Pillsbury Dr SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Breanne ByiersCollege of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Burton Hall, 178 Pillsbury Dr SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Alyssa MerblerCollege of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Burton Hall, 178 Pillsbury Dr SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Andrea HuebnerDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Deanna HofschulteDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, 200 1st street SW, Rochester, MN, 55905, USA.
Jasmine LeeCollege of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Burton Hall, 178 Pillsbury Dr SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Catherine RiodiqueCollege of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Burton Hall, 178 Pillsbury Dr SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Frank SymonsCollege of Education and Human Development, University of Minnesota, Burton Hall, 178 Pillsbury Dr SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.

Funding

Sensory Mechanisms and Self-InjuryR01HD044763 · NICHD · UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA TWIN CITIES · PI FRANK J SYMONS · 2004 to 2026
$7.2M
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 44763NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD044763
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSensory reactivity differences are common across neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), however very few studies specifically examine tactile or pain responses in children with NNDs, especially those with communication challenges. The current study aimed to (a) replicate the feasibility of a modified quantitative sensory test (mQST) with a sample of children with NDDs, (b) assess validity evidence based on behavioral reactivity during mQST application and the corresponding behavioral measurement coding system, and (c) explore group differences in behavioral reactivity to mQST stimuli by demographic (sex), clinical (autism status), and behavioral pathology (self-injury) variables.

methodsThe mQST protocol was implemented and blindly coded across 47 participants aged 2-12 years (M age = 6.7 years, SD = 2.6; 70% male) with NDDs. Feasibility was measured by completion of the mQST protocol and interobserver agreement. Validity was assessed using paired t-tests investigating differences between behavioral reactivity to active stimuli compared to a sham trial. Boxplots were used to visually explore differences in group characteristics (sex, autism status, and self-injurious behavior), with two-sample t-tests used to further characterize differences in SIB group characteristics in behavioral reactivity to mQST stimuli.

resultsThe mQST provided codable data across 91% of stimuli applications with high IOA (84.7% [76.7-95%]). Behavioral reactivity was significantly higher for active vs. sham stimuli. Children reported to engage in self-injurious behavior showed significantly more reactivity to the second half of the repeated von Frey stimulus application compared to children without caregiver-reported self-injurious behavior (M = 6.14, SD = 3.44), t (40)= -2.247, p =.04).

conclusionThe mQST is a feasible approach to investigate tactile reactivity in children with NDDs and complex communication needs. The mQST may be useful in understanding sensory variables in relation to developmental and behavioral outcomes such as self-injurious behavior.

Indexed as

Autistic DisorderDevelopmental DisabilitiesIntellectual DisabilitySelf-Injurious BehaviorTouchTouch PerceptionChildChild, PreschoolFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleReproducibility of ResultsSex FactorsAutismIntellectual developmental disabilityModified quantitative sensory testSelf-injurious behaviorSensory responsivityTactile reactivity

Identifiers

PMID40148783
PMCPMC11948723

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.