Ayres’ Neuroscience Principles include which of the following groupings?

• A. Sensory integration, Sensory modulation, Self-regulation, Sensory responsiveness, Sensory discrimination, Praxis
• B. Language, memory, attention, problem solving
• C. Vision, hearing, taste, smell
• D. Gross motor, balance, coordination

Answer: (A)

Ayres’ Neuroscience Principles describe how the nervous system organizes and uses sensory information to guide adaptive behavior, outlining six interrelated groupings. Sensory integration is the brain’s ability to blend input from touch, movement, vision, and more into a coherent sense of the world that supports purposeful action. Sensory modulation refers to regulating the intensity and duration of responses to sensory input, so responses aren’t either overwhelming or under-responsive. Self-regulation covers the capacity to manage arousal and organize behavior to engage in daily activities. Sensory responsiveness describes the general pattern of reactivity to sensory stimuli, including thresholds and reactions. Sensory discrimination is the ability to notice subtle differences in sensory details, such as textures or proprioceptive cues. Praxis is the motor planning and execution component—how we plan, coordinate, and perform novel movements. These six groupings reflect how sensory processing supports functional behavior in daily life; difficulties across them can lead to challenges in participation. The other options list cognitive domains (language, memory, attention), general senses (vision, hearing, taste, smell), or motor skill categories (gross motor, balance) that aren’t the specific six groupings described in Ayres’ Neuroscience Principles.