SPD-SWG Participants

Davies, Patricia L., PhD, OTR, FAOTA

Title: Associate Professor
Department: Department of Occupational Therapy
Institution: Colorado State University
Mailing Address: 219 Occupational Therapy Building, Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: (970) 491-6253
Website: www.ot.cahs.colostate.edu

Research Interests

Dr. Davies researches motor development and cognitive development in children with and without disabilities. Her research focuses on three primary goals: (1) to examine brain development in children with and without disabilities; (2) to determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation for children with disabilities; and (3) to determine if rehabilitation produces changes in brain structure/function.

SPD Research Summary

Drs. Davies and Gavin are pursuing research validating the diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) using EEG technology, evaluating the maturation of sensory gating in children with and without SPD, and using auditory evoked potentials to discriminate between adults and children with and without SPD. Their studies test the assumption of sensory integration theory that states that a relationship exists between brain function and the behavioral manifestations of sensory integrative dysfunction. Findings include that children with SPD demonstrate less sensory gating than children who are typically developing. Children with SPD demonstrated significantly less gating and more within-group variability compared to typical children. Children with SPD were found to be deficient in their ability to filter out repeated auditory input and failed to selectively regulate their sensitivity to sensory stimuli. Brain activity can correctly distinguish children with SPD from children who were typically developing with 86% accuracy. These results suggest that children with SPD display unique brain processing mechanisms compared to children who were typically developing and provide external validity for the diagnosis of SPD. Findings also suggest that there is the maturational course of sensory gating in typical children but not in children with SPD.

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