A closer look
For some adults, a scratchy clothing tag is processed with the exact same neurological intensity as a burning match. Tactile defensiveness, common in autism and sensory processing disorders, occurs when non-painful touch receptors (A-beta fibers) miscommunicate with the brain's threat-detection centers. The central nervous system completely fails to habituate to the stimulus, meaning the feeling of a wool sweater doesn't fade into the background—it registers as a continuous physical assault.
