A neuro-computational framework for modeling the development of cross-sensory interactions in Autism: from mechanistic understanding to targeted intervention

A neuro-computational framework for modeling the development of cross-sensory interactions in Autism: from mechanistic understanding to targeted intervention | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Article A neuro-computational framework for modeling the development of cross-sensory interactions in Autism: from mechanistic understanding to targeted intervention Melissa Monti, Sophie Molholm, John J. Foxe, Cristiano Cuppini This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583228/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted 12 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Recent studies have shown that multisensory processing in children shifts from a competitive to a facilitative state as development progresses, and this transition appears delayed in children with autism spectrum diagnosis (ASD). The neural mechanisms underlying this developmental change, and its alteration in ASD, remain largely unknown. To address this gap, we investigated how sensory modalities interact in the developing brain using a biologically plausible neurocomputational model governed by Hebbian learning rules. We also explored the neural substrates that may underlie atypical multisensory development in ASD. Our results suggest that inhibitory cross-modal projections gradually become excitatory during development, mediating the observed shift from competition to facilitation in typical children. Furthermore, our simulations show that the delayed transition in ASD may stem either from reduced neural plasticity or diminished multisensory experience. Our model informs the potential benefits that a multisensory rehabilitation strategy may have on the development of perceptual abilities of ASD children, and possibly on the core social symptoms characterizing Autism as well. By linking computational modelling with behavioural findings, our work provides a framework for understanding atypical sensory development. We anticipate that this model could inform future neurophysiological studies and guide the design of multisensory-based therapeutic interventions for ASD. Biological sciences/Neuroscience Biological sciences/Psychology Social science/Psychology neurocomputational modeling Hebbian learning multisensory integration developmental disorders autism spectrum disorder Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files SupplementaryMaterials.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Revision Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 06 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 03 Apr, 2026 Reviews received at journal 14 Mar, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 22 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 19 Feb, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Feb, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 27 Jan, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 17 Jan, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 17 Jan, 2026 First submitted to journal 12 Jan, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8583228","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":573874494,"identity":"d21ca7f8-b5ee-4de6-93e7-a225834c12d1","order_by":0,"name":"Melissa Monti","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA6ElEQVRIie2QuwrCMBRAWwRdrs4O2j8QKkKm0m9JKDg5uDt4RdBFdz+jm7hZMnSJugoO1j/QrUMRr/hAh8aODjlLTgKH3MSyDIa/pITrt3Pw6ADIXF1ivxMbeaP7SnSNjR/mSVrvieaa1nQ0itLMJ5nHSdLbiWWlGiVWP8tNmIpQVicByVYgVwexGtcCVzcY2wuUNpZIem0Us4MIJbC6NjmekAYbPpPrtkCypx+DsnwkHNYFEiXub4mBKdVecAg6oaS3cLeTn8RSXtJs4LB45l5S8JvhbhMl58zJTV7A95b/DAwGg8Gg4wYd5lrruZKqkQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University of Bologna","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Melissa","middleName":"","lastName":"Monti","suffix":""},{"id":573874495,"identity":"22382b28-6da6-4e67-a431-bff5ec6b139a","order_by":1,"name":"Sophie Molholm","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Albert Einstein College of Medicine","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sophie","middleName":"","lastName":"Molholm","suffix":""},{"id":573874496,"identity":"0cc12c5c-55fa-4308-97c0-070571bb9b6b","order_by":2,"name":"John J. 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modeling, Hebbian learning, multisensory integration, developmental disorders, autism spectrum disorder","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583228/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8583228/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eRecent studies have shown that multisensory processing in children shifts from a competitive to a facilitative state as development progresses, and this transition appears delayed in children with autism spectrum diagnosis (ASD). The neural mechanisms underlying this developmental change, and its alteration in ASD, remain largely unknown. To address this gap, we investigated how sensory modalities interact in the developing brain using a biologically plausible neurocomputational model governed by Hebbian learning rules. We also explored the neural substrates that may underlie atypical multisensory development in ASD. Our results suggest that inhibitory cross-modal projections gradually become excitatory during development, mediating the observed shift from competition to facilitation in typical children. Furthermore, our simulations show that the delayed transition in ASD may stem either from reduced neural plasticity or diminished multisensory experience. Our model informs the potential benefits that a multisensory rehabilitation strategy may have on the development of perceptual abilities of ASD children, and possibly on the core social symptoms characterizing Autism as well. By linking computational modelling with behavioural findings, our work provides a framework for understanding atypical sensory development. 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