Summary: New imaging research identifies a clear brain-activity signature in children who become overwhelmed by everyday sensory input—such as loud noises, certain textures, or bright lights. Using functional MRI, researchers at UC San Francisco found that children who are over-responsive show reduced activation in outward-directed sensory and motor networks alongside increased activation in inward-directed cognitive and impulse-control networks.
This pattern appears to be a compensatory strategy: boosting internal control systems to cope with intense sensations while dialing down external sensory processing. That strategy can help manage emotional overload but may also underlie strong behavioral reactions, like tantrums. Mapping these neural patterns could help clinicians design more personalized and effective sensory interventions.
Key Facts:
- Distinct neural signature: Children who are over-responsive to sensory input show lower activity in sensory–motor networks and higher activity in inward-focused cognitive-control networks.
- Reverse pattern in less sensitive children: Children who are not easily overwhelmed tend to show stronger outward-network engagement and lower inward-network activation, suggesting different neural strategies for processing the same environment.
- Clinical implications: Identifying each child’s neural profile could guide tailored sensory therapies and improve outcomes for children who experience emotional and behavioral difficulties related to sensory processing.
Source: UCSF
Using functional imaging to characterize sensory processing variation in children
Scientists at UC San Francisco examined how neurodiverse children process sensory stimulation to better characterize forms of sensory processing differences often discussed under the term sensory processing disorder. Their goal was to find measurable brain markers that distinguish children who become overwhelmed from those who do not.
The team studied 83 neurodiverse children aged 8 to 12, roughly half of whom were identified as highly sensitive to sounds, lights, or touch. Functional MRI scans, which detect changes in blood oxygenation to infer neural activity, revealed systematic differences between the two groups.
Specifically, children who experienced sensory over-responsivity (SOR) showed reduced activity and long-range connectivity in so-called exogenous networks that handle outward-directed functions—sensory perception and motor responses. At the same time, these children had greater activity and local connectivity in endogenous networks tied to internal cognitive control and emotion regulation. Children who were less sensitive exhibited the opposite balance.
“When sensory input becomes overwhelming, the brain appears to compensate by engaging inward-focused systems for control while dampening outward sensory processing,” said Pratik Mukherjee, MD, PhD, co-senior author of the study. “Children who are under-responsive or not emotionally overwhelmed use a different neural approach—one that leaves outward networks more engaged.”
Previous research estimates that 5% to 12% of children in the U.S. experience sensory processing challenges. Those difficulties can contribute to emotional volatility and behavioral challenges across school-age populations. Current treatments for sensory over-responsivity often involve gradual exposure to sensory stimuli to build tolerance; this new imaging work suggests a path toward tailoring such interventions to a child’s neural profile.
“If clinicians can map how a child’s brain balances internal and external systems and link that to observable emotion and behavior, we can better personalize therapy,” Mukherjee added.
Funding: The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grant 5R01MH116950‐04).
Key Questions Answered:
A: A characteristic pattern of lower activity in outward sensory–motor networks and higher activity in inward cognitive-control networks.
A: Less sensitive children generally show stronger engagement of outward sensory and motor networks and relatively lower inward cognitive-control activation.
A: Clinicians could use individual brain-pattern maps to tailor sensory therapies, helping match intervention strategies to each child’s neural profile and behavioral needs.
Editorial Notes:
- This article was edited by a neuroscience news editor.
- The journal paper was reviewed in full for accuracy.
- Additional context was added by the editorial staff to clarify clinical and research implications.
About this neuroscience and neurodevelopment research news
Author: Jess Berthold
Source: UCSF
Contact: Jess Berthold – UCSF
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: Open access. “A neural substrate for sensory over-responsivity defined by exogenous and endogenous brain systems” by Elysa Marco et al., Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders (published Nov. 21, 2025).
Abstract
A neural substrate for sensory over-responsivity defined by exogenous and endogenous brain systems
Background
Outward-directed (exogenous) and inward-directed (endogenous) neural systems work together to support perception, action, cognition, and behavior. How these systems are altered in neurodiverse children is not fully understood, partly because neurodiversity introduces heterogeneity in behavioral and neural responses. Sensory over-responsivity (SOR)—a common form of sensory processing difficulty—provides a clear model to study how basic sensory processing and higher-order control networks interact.
Methods
The study assessed 83 neurodiverse children aged 8–12 (30 females, 53 males) using a structured clinical evaluation for SOR (the Sensory Processing 3 Dimensions Assessment, SP3D:A) and collected 3 Tesla functional MRI data. Of these children, 39 were classified with SOR (ND/SOR) and 44 without SOR (ND/NO-SOR). Researchers extracted exogenous and endogenous functional connectivity networks using independent component analysis and measured both local connectivity—fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuations (fALFF) and regional homogeneity (ReHo)—and long-range connectivity via dual regression. Behavioral regulation was assessed with the Behavioral Assessment System for Children, 3rd edition (BASC-3), and children were categorized as behaviorally “resilient” or “dysregulated” using latent profile analysis.
Results
Overall, children with SOR showed reduced long-range connectivity in exogenous networks. Locally, ND/SOR children demonstrated lower exogenous connectivity and higher endogenous connectivity, a pattern opposite to ND/NO-SOR children. This double dissociation—reduced outward and elevated inward local connectivity—was most evident in children classified as behaviorally resilient, while emotionally dysregulated children displayed a distinct connectivity profile.
Conclusion
Balanced interaction between exogenous and endogenous brain systems supports emotional resilience. Sensory over-responsivity influences this balance, and characterizing individual connectivity patterns may be key to understanding resilience and tailoring effective interventions for children with sensory-related emotional and behavioral difficulties.