Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Predicts Restricted Repetitive Behavior Severity

Emma E Condy; Angela Scarpa; Bruce H Friedman

doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3193-2

Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia Predicts Restricted Repetitive Behavior Severity

J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Sep;47(9):2795-2804. doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3193-2.

Authors

Emma E Condy¹, Angela Scarpa², Bruce H Friedman²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology (0436), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 109 Williams Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA. econdy@vt.edu.
² Department of Psychology (0436), Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 109 Williams Hall, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.

PMID: 28616855
DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3193-2

Abstract

In addition to social communication deficits, restricted repetitive behaviors (RRBs) are a key diagnostic feature of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in ASD has been posited as a mechanism of RRBs; however, most studies investigating ANS activity in ASD have focused on its relation to social functioning. This study used respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) patterns to measure ANS functioning and analyze its relation to RRBs in children with and without an ASD diagnosis. Baseline RSA and RSA reactivity predicted RRB severity and exploratory analyses revealed these measures may be associated with RRB subgroups. These results are discussed in regards to the behavioral literature on RRBs and the benefits of finding biomarkers for these behaviors.

Keywords: Heart rate variability; Repetitive behavior; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications
Autism Spectrum Disorder / physiopathology*
Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology
Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / psychology*
Case-Control Studies
Child
Child, Preschool
Female
Humans
Male
Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia / physiology*
Social Adjustment