Autistic traits influence pain empathy: The mediation role of pain-related negative emotion and cognition

Zhang, W.; Zhuo, Shiwei; Zheng, Q.; Guan, Yuanfang; Peng, Weiwei

doi:10.3724/sp.j.1041.2023.01501

Cited by 1 publication

(4 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(28 reference statements)

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“…This aligns with the notion that individuals with autistic traits perceive and process sensory information from their environment more intensively, leading to a greater complexity in sensory processing ( 56 , 72 ). However, there was no correlation between Autistic Traits and Pain Sensitivity, nor difference in Pain Sensitivity between the High-AQ and Low-AQ groups, echoing the ERP findings in Study 2 and aligning with previous research ( 17 , 25 , 73 , 74 ). This suggests a distinct sensory profile associated with ASD, where increased sensory sensitivity does not extend uniformly to all sensory modalities, particularly in the context of painful sensation.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In line with previous studies ( 7 , 10 – 13 , 25 , 55 ), the AQ questionnaire was used to select participants in the present study, participants with high scores on the AQ questionnaire (High-AQ group) were considered as individuals with autistic traits. Consistent with previous studies ( 9 , 12 , 25 , 56 , 57 ), the present study also found the High-AQ group responded with higher intensity ratings and more negative emotional reactions than the Low-AQ group to the stimuli. These findings indicated that individuals with autistic traits not only perceived sensory stimuli as more intense but also exhibited more negative emotional responses, potentially reflecting their heightened sensory sensitivity and emotional reactivity associated with ASD.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For instance, Zhang et al. ( 25 ) employed the AQ questionnaire to quantify autistic traits and randomly selected two subsets of groups (High-AQ and Low-AQ groups) from the participants with the highest and lowest 10% AQ scores, respectively. This study investigated the relationship between autistic traits and the painful sensation through ERP technology, but did not find a significant difference in the response to painful stimuli between the High-AQ and Low-AQ groups.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Intact painful sensation but enhanced non-painful sensation in individuals with autistic traits

Qian,

Shao,

Wei

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

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Somatosensory abnormalities are commonly recognized as diagnostic criteria in autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and may also exist in individuals with autistic traits. The present research included two studies to explore the painful and non-painful sensation and their cognitive-neurological mechanisms of individuals with autistic traits. Study 1 included 358 participants to assess the relationship between autistic traits and pain/non-pain sensitivities using questionnaires: the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), the Pain Sensitivity Questionnaire, and the Highly Sensitive Person Scale, respectively. Study 1 found that autistic traits were positively correlated with non-pain sensitivity, but not associated with pain sensitivity. Study 2 recruited 1,167 participants whose autistic traits were assessed using the AQ. Subsequently, thirty-three participants who scored within the top 10% and bottom 10% on the AQ were selected into High-AQ and Low-AQ groups, respectively, to explore the cognitive-neural responses of individuals with autistic traits to both painful and non-painful stimuli with event-related potential (ERP) technology. Results of Study 2 showed that the High-AQ group showed higher intensity ratings, more negative emotional reactions, and larger N1 amplitudes than the Low-AQ group to the non-painful stimuli, but no difference of response to the painful stimuli was found between High-AQ and Low-AQ groups. These findings suggest that individuals with autistic traits may experience enhanced non-painful sensation but intact painful sensation.

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