Auditory Study in Autism
What's the study about?
This study investigates how the brain processes sounds, and why sometimes the same sounds can feel too loud or too quiet. We will measure brain activity using EEG to see how much the brain “changes the volume” on the sounds we hear. We will then ask questions over a period of time, about whether any sounds were bothersome on a particular day. This lets us determine whether the brain systems we study in the lab are responsible for how we respond to sounds day-to-day.
Who can participate?
We are recruiting adults with and without autism between the ages of 18-40 years old.
What will participants be doing?
Participation includes a one-time visit to the lab where brain activity is measured using an electroencephalogram (EEG) in response to various sounds. In addition, participants will talk to a clinician, complete questionnaires, and answer online daily questions at home throughout the following two weeks. The in-person visit will take about 4-5 hours to complete and the online sound questions should only take a few minutes each day.
Why is this important?
The goal of this experiment is to help us understand why and when for some people the volume gets turned up too high or too low. This understanding will help to develop strategies to allow people more control over their experience of sound.