People on the autism spectrum often dislike exposure to unexpected stimuli, but why is that? New research takes a look at what happens in the brain, and how that relates to a person’s ability to tolerate exposure to various stimuli.

“People with autism do not like unexpected stimuli, and it may be because brains are not as efficient at rapidly shifting between ideas or thoughts,” notes Dr. Jeff Anderson, a professor in Radiology at the University of Utah Health in Salt Lake City.

Recently, Dr. Anderson and colleagues decided to try and gain a better understanding as to why individuals with autism may experience some of their symptoms.

To do so, they directed their attention to the complex circuitry of the human brain. “We wondered if we could see how local circuits in the brain react in patients with autism,” explains the researcher.

The research team reports the findings of their study in the journal JAMA Network Open. The full study paper is available online.

By Maria Cohut