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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Educ.
Sec. Special Educational Needs
Volume 10 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2025.1485252
Electrodermal Response to Olfactory Stimuli in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review of Emotional and Cognitive Regulation
Provisionally accepted- University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
The study of electrodermal activity (EDA) in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) offers promising physiological biomarkers to enhance objective diagnosis. While previous research has explored responses to visual and auditory stimuli, the reaction to olfactory stimuli remains under-investigated. This research analyzed electrodermal responses to olfactory stimuli in the ASD population, examining its implications for tailoring educational strategies. A systematic review of literature from 2000 to 2024 was conducted using databases like Scopus and Web of Science, resulting in 20 relevant publications. Findings indicate that ASD individuals often exhibit distinct electrodermal patterns compared to the typically developing population, particularly with intense and emotionally provocative odors, which produce significant reactivity. EDA could thus serve as a valuable physiological indicator, aiding educators in adapting learning environments to the emotional needs of students with ASD, thereby optimizing the educational process.
Keywords: Electrodermal activity, Autism Spectrum Disorder, sensory processing, Sympathetic Nervous System, Galvanic Skin Response, Learning processes, sensory modulation
Received: 23 Aug 2024; Accepted: 14 Mar 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Pérez-Jorge, Olmos-Raya, Alonso-Rodríguez and Pérez-Pérez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
David Pérez-Jorge, University of La Laguna, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
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