In this article, we run two studies to examine relationship between autism's charactoristics of behavior and autonomic reactivity observed in heart rate (HR) level during waking and sleeping.
In study I, one hundred and twenty four autism's data based on their trainers' observation were analysed to extract some behavioral charactoristics in autism. Five factors extracted were named respectively as selfstimulative behavior, deficiency of communication, hypersensitivity in hearing, hypoactivity, and lack of interpersonal relationship.
Study II focused on the relationship between these charactoristics of behavior and HR during waking and sleeping in autism. Results were as follows. 1). Thirty nine autism's mean of HR during waking was 88 bpm and was higher than normal subjects's, while the mean of their HR during sleeping was 60 bpm and was similar to normal HR level. 2). Autism's HR during waking correlated factor score of deficiency of communication and hipoactivity. But there was no correlation between HR during sleeping and behavior characteristics of autism.
These findings were discussed in terms of biological deficiency in HR control mechanism and psychological changes following awakening (e.g. increment of stimulus input).