Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently involve atypical
sensory processing in both childhood and adulthood . The upcoming fifth edition of the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders will for the first time
include sensory dysfunction as a diagnostic criterion for ASD (i.e.,
“hyper- or hyporeactivity to sensory input or unusual interest in
sensory aspects of the environment,” American Psychiatric
Association, 2013), calling attention to the need to advance our
understanding in this area. To understand the nature of ASD and to
throw light on individual differences in perception more generally,
it is also important to explore the extent to which the relevant
underlying sensory mechanisms vary in the general population.