Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the context of Environmental Sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda

Corina U Greven; Francesca Lionetti; Charlotte Booth; Elaine N Aron; Elaine Fox; Haline E Schendan; Michael Pluess; Hilgo Bruining; Bianca Acevedo; Patricia Bijttebier; Judith Homberg

doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.009

Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the context of Environmental Sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda

Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2019 Mar:98:287-305. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.009. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Karakter Child and Adolescent Psychiatry University Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; King's College London, Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, London, UK. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Queen Mary University of London, Department of Biological and Experimental Psychology, London, UK.
³ University of Oxford, School of Psychology, Department of Experimental Psychology, Oxford, UK.
⁴ Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA.
⁵ Cognition Institute, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK.
⁶ University Medical Center Utrecht, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
⁷ University of California, Santa Barbara, Neuroscience Research Institute, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
⁸ KU Leuven, School Psychology and Development in Context, Leuven, Belgium.
⁹ Radboud University Medical Center, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

PMID: 30639671
DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.01.009

Abstract

Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) is a common, heritable and evolutionarily conserved trait describing inter-individual differences in sensitivity to both negative and positive environments. Despite societal interest in SPS, scientific knowledge is lagging behind. Here, we critically discuss how SPS relates to other theories, how to measure SPS, whether SPS is a continuous vs categorical trait, its relation to other temperament and personality traits, the underlying aetiology and neurobiological mechanisms, and relations to both typical and atypical development, including mental and sensory disorders. Drawing on the diverse expertise of the authors, we set an agenda for future research to stimulate the field. We conclude that SPS increases risk for stress-related problems in response to negative environments, but also provides greater benefit from positive and supportive experiences. The field requires more reliable and objective assessment of SPS, and deeper understanding of its mechanisms to differentiate it from other traits. Future research needs to target prevention of adverse effects associated with SPS, and exploitation of its positive potential to improve well-being and mental health.

Keywords: Aetiology; Animal model; Cognition; Differential susceptibility; Environmental sensitivity; Highly sensitive child; Highly sensitive person; Mental health; Neuroscience; Personality; Sensory processing sensitivity; Temperament.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Behavior / physiology
Cognition / physiology*
Humans
Individuality
Self Concept*
Sensation / physiology*
Temperament / physiology*