Sensory sensitivity: Mechanisms, triggers and soothers

感觉超敏反应可以被描述为对跨越一个或多个感觉模态的刺激的敏感性，所述刺激可以根据个体而引起不适或压倒，或者是舒缓和安慰的。它与神经多样性和一些健康和神经系统疾病有关，但也有许多报告没有临床诊断。感觉超敏的人会发现日常任务，如购物或访问健康和教育机构具有挑战性，他们的应对机制往往是努力的。本研究项目探讨视觉敏感性的机制，触发因素和安慰剂，并将神经影像学与定性研究相结合。关于感觉灵敏度的潜在生物机制的早期理论正在出现（例如，增加的神经递质兴奋/抑制比或网络连接的个体差异），但尚未完全阐明。此外，迄今为止，探索感官敏感性的工作使用了专门为该任务开发的实验刺激，但忽略了对公共空间的内部景观中常见的“真实的世界”刺激的探索，尽管这些经常被报道为视觉不适的来源。因此，本博士将寻求确定以下内容：1）视觉敏感性的神经机制是什么？2)在临床和商业空间中，物理环境中有哪些常见的环境元素会引发视觉敏感，哪些元素有助于缓解这些敏感？功能性神经影像学方法利用来自建筑环境的刺激来识别建筑规范的哪些具体方面（例如光强度和色调、墙壁图案和颜色等）导致视觉不适，哪些有助于缓解视觉不适。新兴研究表明，绿色光可以降低偏头痛发作的频率和严重程度，而蓝光可以引发偏头痛。同样，无处不在的垂直条纹隔音板可能会帮助那些有恐音症的人，但可能会引起恶心和头晕的视觉敏感的人。在这项研究中，使用“真实的世界”刺激的神经成像可能不仅有助于识别特定的触发器和安慰剂，而且还可以探索视觉敏感性的潜在生物机制。在浏览公共空间时，倾听感官敏感者的生活经历将有助于更广泛地了解设计师和建筑师如何在建筑环境中更好地适应感官敏感者。博士学位将与学生作为室内设计师的专业角色一起兼职完成，使研究成果直接影响公共空间的设计。这是一个独特的机会，通过他们的专业经验和相关的联系，同时应用环境刺激的知识，这项研究，并告知与结果的建筑环境的指导方针。因此，这位博士的研究成果将为公共空间带来切实的变化，使许多使用公共空间的人受益。

Sensory hypersensitivity can be described as sensitivity to stimuli across one or more sensory modalities which can cause discomfort or overwhelm, or be soothing and comforting, depending on the individual. It is associated with areas of neurodiversity and a number of health and neurological conditions, but is also reported by many without a clinical diagnosis. People who have sensory hypersensitivities can find everyday tasks such as shopping or visiting health and education settings challenging, and their coping mechanisms are often effortful. This research project explores the mechanisms, triggers and soothers of visual sensitivities and combines neuroimaging with qualitative research. Early theories as to potential biomechanisms of sensory sensitivities are emerging (E.g., increased neurotransmitter excitation/inhibition ratio or individual differences in network connectivity) but are yet to be fully elucidated. Further, work exploring sensory sensitivities to date has used experimental stimuli developed specifically for the task but has neglected the exploration of 'real world' stimuli that are commonly found in the interior landscape of public spaces, despite these being an often-reported source of visual discomfort. This PhD will therefore seek to identify the following:1) What are the neural mechanisms of visual sensitivities?2) What are common environmental elements of the physical environment found in clinical and commercial spaces which trigger visual sensitivities, and which elements help to soothe these?Functional neuroimaging methods using stimuli from the built environment will seek to identify which specific aspects of architectural specifications (e.g. light intensity and hue, wall patterns and colours etc) contribute to visual discomfort and which help to soothe it. Emerging research suggests that green light can reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, whilst blue light can trigger them. Likewise, ubiquitous vertically striped acoustic panelling may help those with misophonia but can induce nausea and dizziness in those with visual sensitivities. Using neuroimaging with 'real world' stimuli in this research may not just help to identify specific triggers and soothers but also enables the exploration of potential biomechanisms of visual sensitivities.In tandem to functional neuroimaging, qualitative research will support the ecological validity of the project. Hearing the lived experiences of people with sensory hypersensitivity when navigating public spaces will contribute to a broader understanding of how designers and architects can better accommodate people with sensory sensitivities in the built environment. The PhD will be completed part time alongside the students' professional role as an interior designer, allowing research outcomes to directly impact the design of public spaces. This represents a unique opportunity through their professional experience and associated contacts to simultaneously apply knowledge of environmental stimuli to this research and to inform guidelines for the built environment with the results. The research outcomes of this PhD would therefore inform tangible changes to public spaces, to the benefit of many who use them.