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Autism Anxiety Eased by Reporter Game
24 Sep
Summary
- A new 'reporter game' helps autistic children manage anxiety from sensations.
- MRI scans show reduced brain activity in sensory regions during the game.
- The strategy is easily incorporated into existing cognitive behavioral therapy.
A new study has introduced a "reporter game" designed to help children with autism manage anxiety related to sensory sensitivities. This therapeutic game teaches participants to assess potentially distressing sensations, such as textures or loud noises, with the objectivity of a news reporter.
Researchers utilized MRI scans to observe the effects of this cognitive reappraisal technique on the brains of autistic children. The scans revealed a significant decrease in activity within the brain's sensory regions when the children engaged with the reporter game.
Participants also exhibited increased activity in frontal brain areas responsible for emotional regulation. While typically developing children found the sensations less unpleasant when using the game, autistic children still perceived them as bothersome, though their brain patterns did shift.
This reporter game strategy aligns with standard cognitive behavioral therapy, suggesting it can be easily integrated into existing treatments for autism-related anxiety. Future research aims to test its efficacy in real-world scenarios.
