Comprehensive Analysis: Heart Rate, Temperature, and Movement in ASD

This report examines the impact of heart rate, temperature, and movement on individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It explores how abnormalities in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) and the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic (LCN) system affect autistic individuals. The repor...Read More

Running head: EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN
AUTISM
EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN AUTISM
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1EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN AUTISM
Introduction
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the collective name given to multiple symptoms of
mental health deficits pertaining cognitive, behavioral and neurological abnormalities. Recent
research indicates that ASD symptoms are associated with abnormalities within specific organ
systems in the inflicted individuals, one of them being, the Autonomic Nervous System
(Ferguson et al., 2016). The following paper will thus discuss in the effect of heart rate,
temperature and vital signs on autistic individuals.
Discussion
Heart Rate
Increased heart rate has been evidenced to be a product of the ‘fight’ or ‘flight’
mechanism generated as a stress response procedure by the Autonomous Nervous System
(ASD). However, such mechanisms have been found to be abnormally elevated in ASD patients,
possibly due to abnormalities in the ANS. There is little research however, regarding the reasons
underlying ANS abnormalities in ASD patients, with oxidative stress been evidenced to be a
possible factor (Järvinen et al., 2015). However, as per the research by Ellenbroek and Segul
(2017), due to ANS abnormalities and associated cognitive deficits, ASD patients are inflicted
with abnormal arousal levels which further pave the way for high frequency sinus arrhythmia,
erratic heart rate variability and abnormally high baseline high rates. Such abnormalities have
been evidenced to occur when patients are required to engage actively in social situations in
comparison to passive exposure to socially stimulating situations. Such findings may pave the
way for considering cardiovascular assessments as key predictors for ASD detection in
individuals demonstrating ASD-like symptoms (DeBoth et al., 2017).

2EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN AUTISM
Temperature
In addition to deficits in the ANS, impairments in the locus coeruleus-noradrenergic
(LCN) system – the key system involved in physiological stress regulation – are the causative
factors underlying behavioral and cognitive deficits in ASD children (Granovetter et al., 2019). It
is for this reason, Ratajczak and Sothern (2016), researched that hyperthermic water therapy
interventions comprising of exposing ASD patients to a water bath temperature of 102F short
durations, induced beneficial effects like enhanced LCN functioning and improved ASD
symptoms such as enhanced social control and reduced repetitive behaviors. Such evidence on
temperature effects assist in developing novel ASD therapeutic interventions (Ferguson et al.,
2016).
Movement
The above identified neurological and cognitive deficits have been evidenced to impact
movement in ASD children, which is why such patients are seen to demonstrate movements
which are stereotyped and exaggerated, in the form of pacing, rocking, clapping or even self-
harming aggressive behaviors (Cook, 2016). To counter movement based symptoms on ASD,
exercise coupled with rhythmic cuing or music therapy has been proven to be beneficial for
improving cortical plasticity in ASD patients - the ability to form and integrate novel neuronal
connections – and thus, overall movement. Such information regarding the effects of movement
in ASD patients again paves the way for novel therapeutic interventions (LaGasse & Hardy,
2013).

3EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN AUTISM
Conclusion
This paper discusses key insights into the effect of heart rate, temperature and vital signs
on patients inflicted with ASD. To conclude, consideration of evidence-based research linking
the effects of these vital signs parameters with ASD assists in the development of comprehensive
assessments and treatment interventions.

4EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN AUTISM
References
Cook, J. (2016). From movement kinematics to social cognition: the case of
autism. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological
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DeBoth, K., Reynolds, S., Lane, S. J., Carretta, H., Lane, A. E., & Schaaf, R. C. (2017).
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Occupational Therapy, 71(4_Supplement_1), 7111505090p1-7111505090p1.
Ellenbroek, B. A., & Sengul, H. K. (2017). Autism spectrum disorders: Autonomic alterations
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5EFFECT OF HEART RATE, TEMPERATURE AND MOVEMENT IN AUTISM
LaGasse, A. B., & Hardy, M. W. (2013). Rhythm, movement, and autism: using rhythmic
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