Biology Webinar | Molecular and Neurological Aspects of Sensory Processing Disorders, 4 December 2025

Sensory processing is a fundamental aspect of human development, enabling individuals to perceive, interpret, and adapt to their environment. When this process is disrupted, as in Sensory Processing Disorders (SPDs), the ability to respond appropriately to sensory stimuli is compromised, with significant consequences for cognition, communication, and stress regulation.

Functional neuroimaging has revealed atypical patterns of brain activity in individuals with SPD, while diffusion tensor imaging has provided valuable insights into microstructural integrity and white matter connectivity.

Atypical responses to sensory stimuli are also observed in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Emerging evidence suggests overlapping neural mechanisms between SPDs and these conditions, pointing to potential shared pathways in brain function.

Nevertheless, SPDs remain only partially understood. This underscores the urgent need to integrate novel scientific approaches and advanced technologies to unravel their complex mechanisms, and to clarify their relationship with other neurodevelopmental disorders involving sensory processing deficits. Equally important is the development of innovative diagnostic and therapeutic tools that may enable earlier detection and more effective interventions.

Date: 4 December 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m. CET to 12:50 p.m. CET
Register in advance for this webinar at the following link: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_myRCJ4tgTFm0d70-17tfgg
Webinar ID: 828 7275 5604
Webinar Secretariat: journal.webinar@mdpi.com
Webinar announcement: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8117630604225/WN_myRCJ4tgTFm0d70-17tfgg

Program:

Speaker/Presentation	Time in CET
Dr. Laura Clara Grandi (Chair) Chair Introduction	11:00–11:10 a.m.
Prof. Vincenza Tarantino The contribution of sensory habituation and attentional control to hypersensitivity in autism	11:10–11:30 a.m.
Dr. Marcel Schulze Multisensory integration in adult ADHD	11:30–11:50 a.m.
Dr. Matteo Tonna Sensorimotor, self and language endophenotypes in the schizophrenia spectrum	11:50–12:10 p.m.
Mr. Giulio Valagussa Sensory Profile of Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Tip-Toe Behavior: Results of an Observational Pilot Study	12:10–12:30 p.m.
Q&A Session	12:30–12:45 p.m.
Dr. Laura Clara Grandi Closing of Webinar	12:45–12:50 p.m.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Feel free to still register; we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

Dr. Laura Clara Grandi, University of Milano-Bicocca, Dipartimento di Biotecnologie e Bioscienze, Milano, Italia;
Prof. Vincenza Tarantino, Department of Psychology, Educational Science and Human Movement, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy;
Dr. Marcel Schulze, University Hospital Bonn, Germany;
Dr. Matteo Tonna, Università degli studi di Parma, Parma, Italy;
Mr. Giulio Valagussa, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy.