Physiologic arousal to social stress in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A pilot study

Little is known about arousal to socially stressful situations in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. This preliminary study investigates physiologic arousal in children with high functioning autism (HFA, n = 19) compared to a comparison group (n = 11) before, during, and after the Trier Social Stress Test. The HFA group was more likely to have a decrease in salivary cortisol following the stressor, while the comparison group was more likely to have an increase (p = .02). However, there was no difference in electrodermal activity, a measure of sympathetic arousal, or vagal tone, a measure of parasympathetic activity, between groups. These findings implicate a differential neuroendocrine response to social stress in children with HFA despite similar sympathetic and parasympathetic responses during a stressor. Further studies are required to substantiate this finding.

► Study of arousal to social stress in children with high functioning autism (HFA).
► HFA group decreased salivary cortisol level after the stress, controls had increase.
► No difference in sympathetic or parasympathetic activity between HFA and controls.
► Findings implicate different neuroendocrine response to social stress in HFA.