| Children and adults with autism benefit from weighted | | | | and joints. Proprioceptive input sends signals to the |
| blankets because they calm the nervous system so | | | | brain that cause serotonin to be released, which is the |
| they can relax and sleep. Melatonin is the chemical in | | | | neurotransmitter in the brain that makes people feel |
| the brain that helps us sleep. The science of how a | | | | happy. A lack of serotonin being used properly by the |
| weighted blanket leads to melatonin lies in the body | | | | brain is one of the causes of depression. |
| and brain's sensory processing. | | | | Further down the path we get to melatonin. Some |
| People on the autism spectrum often have Sensory | | | | parents give their children melatonin pills to help them |
| Processing Disorder (a.k.a. Sensory Integration | | | | fall asleep. But, an increase in serotonin causes natural |
| Dysfunction). Sensory Processing Disorder is a | | | | melatonin to be released in the brain. |
| neurological disorder involving smell, hearing, pain, body | | | | This is where the link happens: weighted blankets |
| position, taste, visual, temperature, and the body's | | | | cause the serotonin to be released, which is calming, |
| position and movement. In short, the brain receives all | | | | which in turn causes melatonin to be produced, which |
| this stimuli but can't make sense of it so it can react | | | | causes a feeling of sleepiness. So, a weighted blanket |
| normally. | | | | helps people with autism, Asperger Syndrome, PDD, |
| One type of sensory stimulation, rather calming, is | | | | ADHD, and ADD will help them fall asleep and stay |
| proprioceptive input, which is pressure on the muscles | | | | asleep. |