UCLA study finds cognitive reappraisal reduces sensory brain activity in autistic youth

A UCLA Health study published in the Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry suggests that cognitive reappraisal can reduce sensory over-responsivity in autistic children and teens. The research involved 47 autistic and 45 typically developing youth between the ages of 8 and 15.

Participants were taught a technique called cognitive reappraisal, framed as a ‘reporter game,’ where they learned to describe sensations objectively rather than focusing on the distress they caused. During MRI scans, autistic participants who used this method showed a significant drop in brain activity within sensory regions when exposed to unpleasant textures, such as scratchy wool or artificial grass.

Both groups exhibited increased activity in the frontal regions of the brain responsible for emotional regulation. Researchers noted that older autistic children appeared to use this strategy more effectively, suggesting a possible developmental delay in the use of frontal brain regions for sensory regulation compared to typically developing peers.