Relationships between sensory stimulation and stereotyped behaviour in severely mentally retarded and autistic children.

The reinforcing properties of four sensory stimuli (continuous and flashing light, vibration and sound) which were under the subject's control, were examined and the effect on stereotyped behaviour observed. The subjects were 24 severely retarded children in three diagnostic groups; Down's, Rubella and a group which included neither of these diagnoses. Duration of stimulation with continuous light was significantly lower than the other three stimuli, but there were no differential effects on stereotypy, nor diagnostic group differences.