My plan is to finish up here telling you about the research done in 2022. In the future I will just choose one new study and write about what it brings up for me to talk to you about it.
So as promised, here are the last good studies of 2022. I know some of you will be fascinated, some bored. Remember, you can always just read the title and “bottom line.” Above all, be happy with all the research being done, putting us on the scientific map!
- Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) and axonal microarchitecture: identifying brain structural characteristics for behavior.
David, S., Brown, L. L., Heemskerk, A. M., Aron, E., Leemans, A., & Aron, A. (2022). Sensory processing sensitivity and axonal microarchitecture: identifying brain structural characteristics for behavior. Brain Structure and Function, 1-17.
This study is another example, using totally different methods, of how much the brains of those high in SPS (people who are HSPs) differ from those low in the trait. Previous research on the brain and SPS has mostly used functional magnetic resonance imagining (fMRI), but this study used a new method, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI, measuring diffusion of water in the axon) to look for “axonal microstructural differences,” which are differences in the arrangement of white matter in the brain, telling us something about how the brain is organized while it is at rest, not doing anything.
We had available 408 participants from the Human Connectome Project. Also known as the Young-Adult Human Connectome Project, the National Institute of Health created this free data bank to obtain a map of the normal brain by doing DTIs on 1200 young, healthy subjects, plus having them take many psychological tests, and making all this data available for research. Of course, the participants in the Human Connectome Project did not take the HSP Scale, so we had to create a “proxy” SPS questionnaire using individual questions from other questionnaires they had taken that seemed by their contents to measure SPS. (This “proxy” HSP measure was first given along with the HSP Scale to a large number of people, and only the items correlating best to the HSP Scale were used in the final proxy measure.)
The results? The differences between HSPs and those without the trait in the microstructure of their white matter in specific cortical regions were consistent with what had been found in fMRI studies, although there were a few new areas with differences that related to attention and cognitive flexibility, empathy, emotion, and first levels of sensory processing, as in the primary auditory cortex—all differences you would predict given what we know about HSPs.
Bottom Line: Once again, SPS is shown to be a real trait, in that those with it have brains that look and perform differently than the brains of those who do not have the trait. Can’t be simpler.
- Emotional Contagion and Mirror System Activity in the Highly Sensitive Person.
Ishikami, Y., & Tanaka, H. (2022). Emotional Contagion and Mirror System Activity in the Highly Sensitive Person. In International Symposium on Affective Science and Engineering ISASE2022 (pp. 1-4). Japan Society of Kansei Engineering.
Understanding that HSPs are thought to have more empathy but that questionnaires about one’s empathy can be inaccurate, the authors evaluated empathy in two ways that did not require asking people with questionnaires. The first used an electroencephalograph (EEG) to measure mirror system activity (indicating a particular aspect of empathy). The second method looked for emotional contagion (another kind of empathy).
In the study of mirror neurons, participants were shown a video of someone raising a cup. While watching the cup being raised, participants with an HSP Scale score of 100 or higher showed “event-related desynchronization of 50% or higher,” indicating that they were having greater mirror system activity (or mentally mirroring the video) in response to someone else’s movements.
In the study of emotional contagion, when people looked at an image of a happy face, those with higher HSP Scale scores showed lower alpha wave activity in their brains. Since alpha waves are associated with non-arousal, it was inferred that the happy face created happy feelings, which increased HSPs’ arousal and reduced their alpha rhythms. Interestingly, neutral or sad faces did not.
Thus, it was found in these two studies that the higher the HSP Scale score, the greater the level of mirror system activity and of emotional response to seeing someone looking happy, all of which indicates greater empathy without using questionnaires to ask about it.
Bottom Line: Once again a brain measure finds what questionnaires have also shown: In this case that we have more empathy and a greater positive response to positive emotions in others.
- Variability in the Relationship Between Parenting and Executive Functions in Early Childhood: The Role of Environmental Sensitivity.
Oeri, N. S., Kunz, N. T., & Pluess, M. (2022). Variability in the Relationship Between Parenting and Executive Functions in Early Childhood: The Role of Environmental Sensitivity. OSF Preprints
Executive functioning refers to the ability to plan, focus attention, remember an instruction, or multitask when necessary. Very poor executive functioning is the same as Attention Deficit Disorder. In this study, executive functioning was higher for HSCs whose parents reported more involved parenting, while it was substantially lower for HSCs whose parents reported using corporal punishment. No such effects emerged for less sensitive children. This is a straightforward case of differential susceptibility.
Bottom Line: This is just what we would expect: A child who is over aroused all the time, fearing punishment, will not be able to develop executive functioning as well as a child who feels supported and securely attached to parents and can focus their attention on what they are doing.
- The relation between sensory processing sensitivity and telomere length in adolescents.
Jentsch, A., Hoferichter, F., Raufelder, D., Hageman, G., & Maas, L. (2022). The relation between sensory processing sensitivity and telomere length in adolescents. Brain and Behavior, 12(9), e2751.
Telomeres are repeated DNA sequences located at the ends of chromosomes, and their length reduces naturally over time, so telomere length (TL) is considered a biomarker of cellular aging. But stress and certain personality traits are associated with shorter TL as well. Its meaning is really not well studied in young people, but in a study of 82 healthy adolescents aged 13–16 from secondary schools in Germany, students with higher scores on the HSP Scale were likely to have shorter telomeres. TL could be associated with simply having the trait, but if stress is the cause, well, we know HS adolescence in public schools are certainly under stress.
Bottom Line: This may mean we need to improve the lives of HS high school students, which we should do anyway.
- Investigating the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and relationship satisfaction: Mediating roles of negative affectivity and conflict resolution style.
Zorlular, M., & Uzer, T. (2022). Investigating the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and relationship satisfaction: Mediating roles of negative affectivity and conflict resolution style. Current Psychology, 1-10.
This study looked at 200 Turkish couples age 18-25 in romantic relationships (not married or living together) for at least 24 months. The authors emphasized that HSPs tended to have less satisfying relationships if they displayed a tendency to have negative emotions or poor conflict resolution skills and those high in SPS tend to have more negative emotions. But they did not point out that if you statistically control for negative emotions—that is, hold it to be the same in everyone—there is no correlation between SPS and relationship dissatisfaction or satisfaction. (They also looked at the effect of one’s childhood and found no relationship with SPS and satisfaction, but it was not a good measure of childhood.)
Bottom Line: We can imagine many reasons why HSPs in a relationship might be negative and also dissatisfied with it. But this study is clear that just being an HSP does not interfere with being happy in a relationship.
- Environmental Sensitivity in Adults: Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale 10-Item Version.
Iimura, S., Yano, K., & Ishii, Y. (2022). Environmental Sensitivity in Adults: Psychometric Properties of the Japanese Version of the Highly Sensitive Person Scale 10-Item Version. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1-13.
The important part of this study was not revealed in its title: In order to show that their 10-item scale was valid, in the last of a series of four studies reported in the article they showed a short positive video to the study participants (85 Tokyo college students) and then gave them a measure of how happy or sad they felt. Only those high on the HSP Scale had more positive feelings after watching the video, an example, according to the authors, of vantage sensitivity.
Bottom Line: In spite of all the talk about our negative emotions and tendency to neuroticism, on average we enjoy positive experiences more than others do!
I just found out that people with fibromyalgia (like me) are very often hsp’s like me. An interesting correlation. Have you seen studies to this affect?
Thanks.
lisa
In my nursing and clinical energy practice experience, those with Fibromyalgia have consistently put others needs before their own and have given little or no consideration to BODY CARE. They are often ‘human DO-ings’ instead of ‘human BE-ings.’ When they make healthly lifestyle, thought hygiene and BODY CARE choices things turn around remarkably quickly.
Be WELL. Be BLESSED. ~ Paula Powers, BSN, CHTP
Heartfelt Healing Touch
I’m interested in this too. The doctor diagnosed me with fibromyalgia too, and I believe I am an HSP as well. I also have chronic migraine.
It has been my experience that alcohol, and smoking cigarettes and abusive environments and to much sugar and salt have strong links to your health. It strips away that sheath that protects your nerves causing the pain, sometimes it also is an indicator that your vitamin B’s are very low. Your Vitamins, C, D, E, and omega 3’s are vital to your nervous system and overall health. If not getting your health in control from there it can lead to autoimmune diseases that you do not want. Hope this helps!
Hi Lisa. That’s a good question! I also have fibromyalgia and restless legs.
Wow! All of these comments have brought me so much comfort. I have chronic pain & also got diagnosed with fibromyalgia, what’s up here? Are we just reacting to a culture that is not designed with the human body and mind under consideration
Just a thank you for the continued research, having evidence based facts makes it so much easier to explain to people in your life what it means to be HSP and be taken seriously.
Thank you for your work ❤️
I strongly believe I am an HSP, and I’ve recently diagnosed at 34 years old with ADHD. How could I know for certain whether my executive functioning difficulties come from ADHD or if they are a result of being an HSP with a problematic upbringing (received corporal punishment and also sibling bullying). I guess it could be both things simultaneously. I find ADHD medication is helpful, but not as much as I’d hoped. I’m searching for ways to improve my executive functioning and having a hard time of it… ADHD, OCD, anxiety, depression, also chronic migraine and pain. Feeling like a mental health issue buffet over here hah.
A regular mindfulness practice, daily exercise, a healthy diet low in processed foods, high in whole foods, sometimes with supplementation (omega 3’s for example) and a predictable but flexible daily routine can help. Also, finding a good trauma therapist can make a big difference. Good luck!
Is there a connection on being a HSP person and having strong memories from being aged 2? The memories I have are visually strong memories often associated with a bright light and strong emotions. I can still at age 44 remember details from that memories like where I was, my surrounding as a visual clear picture as well as how I felt at that time. I thought it is impossible to remember things from under the age of 5 years, but I’m positive I do have those memories. Are there any studies about early childhood memory linked to being a high sensitive person?
That is a great question! I don’t know the answer, but I also have a very strong, vivid memory from when I was a toddler.
At almost 60 years old, I recently was tested for ADHD (trying to get support for why I do what I do…time blind, disorganized, start/not finish, impulsive, etc. since childhood). Based on the DSM-5 and surveys, my clinician said I most likely had it. But, the testing showed average working memory and processing speed, so ADHD was a no. I felt so defeated. I found the HSP info, and it checked all the boxes. My question, can you have averaged WM and PS and still have executive function deficits?
I’m not trying to diminish your experience, but if you’re impulsive I’m a little skeptical that you are an HSP. Highly sensitive people are known for being very cautious, because we’re deeply processing the world around us, and we need more time to process everything before we make a decision. We like to think before we act. Also, we process everything much deeper than the average person, so the fact that your processing speed and working memory was average also makes me a bit skeptical. HSPs often have excellent executive functioning, because our brains are so organized. You may want to check out female autism, or simply executive disfunction.
Thank you for the research.
I have recently recognised that I am a HSP, and feel so relieved at understanding that there is nothing wrong with me. I don’t have to explain why I weep in public at concerts, why I need to be alone at times, why I avoid certain social situations and need to leave early if I do go. Why I exhaust myself at times with my own thought processes.
So, again, thanks for the research. I look forward to reading more.
Thank you for your excellent study! Could you comment, if high sensitivity is related to connective tissue dysplasia syndromes (people with miopia, mitral valve prolapse, hyperflixibility, asthenia, etc.)
Thanks so much for providing such insightful abstracts to research being done in HSP. At the age of 60 I just discovered that the HSP concept fits perfectly to me and my personality traits and it does not cease to amaze me that I only found out so late in my life that there is a word for my being in the world.
As an academic I have just started to research HSP, so I wonder if you have come across research being done on the impact of menopause on HSP or the way HSPs experience the empty nest syndrome. Goes without saying that I was hit brutally hard in both phases and in particular the dropping of the hormones left me close to depressions until I found out about HRT. Heavy disappointment or my children’s sufferings etc. subject me to incredible melt-downs and I wonder if the reason for that is the combination of HSP and hormone loss.
I resonate with your descriptors; in my 60s, parent of adult children. For me divorce in 3 generations and backlash from children have caused intense anxiety. Spiritual practice, healthy eating, exercise and 12 steps with like minded empathetic same sex have helped hugely!
I have come to learn that highly sensitivity individuals such as myself live here in the higher realms as well as on the other side. Meaning I have channeled my loved ones who have crossed without knowing it in my younger years, I have the gift of mediumship with members on the other side-but it usually is with people I know and sometimes if I do pick up on the negative entities here on earth, being an empath, highly sensitive can feel like a nervous energy in your body, can create headaches, raise your blood pressure and worse feel the actual symptoms of others as my own. I have learned to differentiate between my energy and others. As I have worked on my childhood traumas the real work unveils–spiritual gifts. Highly sensitive person (HSP) can be an asset, but often times a deficit when feeling the negative stuff that people put out there. I do believe in the imaging and thank God for the research for scientific validation.
As far as the mental issues that people are speaking of — counseling can help you release all that negative trauma you have kept trapped in your body, muscles, brain causing some of the mental issues. I have come to learn you must do the work, reading books, psychology, medical books found at your local book store are wonderful resources. Talk to your doctors, nurses, psychology, researchers.
I have been ask by Dr. Daniel Sieguel (in a Q&A session) to send him the research and foundations of:
There were two particularly exciting finds about the brain areas that were more active for HSPs than non-HSPs during these tasks. First, this responsiveness occurred in the “mirror neuron” areas, apparently only found in primates and humans and known to facilitate empathy. The second especially interesting area was the insula, sometimes called the “seat of consciousness” because it brings together all aspects – thoughts, feelings, perceptions, bodily states, etc. – all of our moment-to-moment experience. These are fairly amazing results!
I am just a student. Could someone help me finding specific data about HSP for an expert https://drdansiegel.com/curriculum-vitae/
Reading through the comments I feel like I have come to the right place. After many years feeling like I don’t fit in, I have had an awakening that has turned my entire thinking about higher stages of consciousness, a higher power in a 180 degree direction. A number of changes in relationships this year that resulted in deep sadness and grief led me to a life coach who was pivotal in opening my mind. I was a skeptic until now about woo woo topics. Learning to meditate to a state of clearing my mind in turn allowed healing energies to find me. It’s hard to describe in words. At age 60 like so many others here, I wonder about the timing and why now after all these years wondering what was wrong with me. I’m grateful for it!
I am particularly interested in the areas of Bio Resonance, Clairvoyance, Energy Transferrence. I have not found much research and I can understand why as it’s “out there”. But I know it’s real. I would welcome any suggestions on where to look or researchers. Thank you!
I am just now finding out about HSP. It feels as though someone has been following me my whole life and taking notes! I am comforted in knowing this information because I’ve spent my life feeling guilty and “weak” because of being easy overwhelmed and not being able to handle as much as
others. Thank you for the research, blogs, and other resources!