Impact of repeated exposure on scent preferences and food decisions in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders
A recent study has provided intriguing insights into the potential impact of olfactory familiarization on food preferences in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The research, while not directly addressing this specific area, draws on related findings from general research and clinical observations.
Children with ASD often demonstrate strong food selectivity or picky eating behaviors. Therapeutic approaches often involve gradual exposure to foods, including sensory familiarization (taste, smell, texture) to reduce food refusals. Olfactory cues, recognised as important in social and food-related behaviors in animal models, might play a significant role in this process.
One mouse study indicates that olfactory cues alone may induce social approach but not social transmission of food preference, suggesting complexity in how smell affects food preference behavior. However, olfactory memory tests in animal studies show that olfactory familiarization can influence food-seeking behaviors, which may have parallels in human sensory processing and food acceptance.
Behavioral deficits relevant to ASD, including sensory processing anomalies, have been observed in animal models with specific neurological deficits. This hints that sensory experience (including smell) could influence behavioral outcomes related to food preference.
In the study, participants were presented with a series of food odors in session 1. After session 3, they were presented with two identical foods, one containing the familiarized odor and one the control odor. The study aimed to determine if olfactory familiarization could make food odors more pleasant for children with ASD.
The study used a neutral odor for four occasions in session 2, with a different neutral odor as control. In session 3, participants smelled the entire series of odors again. Comparison of verbal and facial responses from session 1 to session 3 revealed a specific increase in positive emotions for the familiarized odor.
Results of the study suggest that it is possible to modulate olfactory emotions in children with ASD. Remarkably, 68% of the children preferred the food associated with the "familiarized odor". Children who chose the "familiarized odor" food exhibited significantly more sensory particularities.
The application of this paradigm may enable innovative prospects for food education in autism. The study found that the children's preference for the "familiarized odor" was significant, and it is possible that this approach could help reduce food selectivity and increase dietary repertoire in children with ASD.
While sensory-based familiarization (including olfactory cues) is a promising approach in managing food selectivity in ASD, definitive conclusions about its effects on food preferences require more targeted clinical research. The study's results, however, provide a promising foundation for further investigation in this area.
- The study's findings suggest that eye tracking could be useful in consumer research related to food preferences in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as it may provide insights into the associations children form with different food odors, potentially aiding in the development of targeted health-and-wellness interventions and mental-health support.
- As science continues to explore the impact of sensory-based familiarization on food preferences in ASD, findings from related areas such as eye tracking research in consumer behavior and the understanding of mental health could contribute to advancing our knowledge about how to decrease food selectivity and expand the dietary repertoire for those with ASD, thereby addressing a critical issue in the health-and-wellness sector.
