Conclusion
The current study provides preliminary support for the use of a
domain-specific approach to examining RSA-R in autistic children. By
evaluating physiological responses during social, cognitive, emotional,
and sensory challenges, we can more precisely characterize how autistic
children self-regulate across contexts and identify what kinds of
physiological reactivity are most relevant for externalizing behavior
for autistic children. The current study is the first to find a
relationship between socially induced RSA-R and externalizing behavior
among young autistic children. Further, the feasibility of the current
protocol is encouraging for replication in a larger sample.
Understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying externalizing
behaviors supports the development of objective methods to identify
which children may respond best to behavioral support or intervention to
optimize behavioral outcomes.