12/06/2025
Big News in Sensory Integration + Autism Research!
A new PhD study from UCLA by Dr. Melis Ezgi Cakar has just confirmed something many Ayres Sensory Integration® (ASI) therapists have known for years:
The cerebellum (the “little brain” that helps us move, balance, and process sensations) plays a big role in Sensory Over-Responsivity (SOR); especially in autism.
What the research found:
• Autistic children with SOR had overactive cerebellum responses to sound and touch
• Their brains didn’t “habituate” or settle down with repeated input like typical brains do
• There was also weaker calming input from the brain’s regulation centres (like the prefrontal cortex)
• And lower levels of a key calming brain chemical: GABA
Why it matters:
This study gives strong neuroscience backing to what ASI does best; using playful, sensory-motor activities to build body awareness, regulation, and adaptive responses. It’s more than just fun: it’s neuroplasticity in action.
If you’re an OT, PT, parent, or educator using ASI, this is a proud moment. Science is catching up with what we’ve seen in practice for decades.
Read more here: https://sensoryproject.org/2025/06/06/research-alert-the-cerebellums-role-in-sensory-over-responsivity-in-autism/
Dissertation title: The Involvement of the Cerebellum in Sensory Over-Responsivity in Autism
Author: Dr. Melis Ezgi Cakar, UCLA, 2025
