Is Autism a Higher State of Consciousness?

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This is a subject that interests me intensely...



I've recently been reading up on "Intense World Theory" (which proposes that the autism spectrum is composed of varying degrees of highly active brains, complete with hyper-connectivity and hyper-plasticity) and am rather intrigued by it as if supports many of my long-held suspicions.



For myself, the most wonderful and often frustrating aspect of autism is the ability to "see beyond" social convention and the shared social construct of reality, to experience, on a daily basis, a degree of the cleansing of the "doors of perception," as discussed in the psychedelic manifesto of the same name by Aldous Huxley.



Indeed, I've heard it proposed that autistics experience varying degrees higher consciousness (perhaps caused by hyper-connectivity and hyper-plasticity) that neurotypicals experience while under the influence of psychedelics.



I often use this illustration...



If autism consciousness is like music from a car radio, and life is the road the listener is driving on, the driver with the most clear and focused signal will hear the most compelling music and thus be the most distracted from the road in front of him.



This clear signal may be the result of a comparatively overworking brain or of a brain with an underworking filter (less likely). Huxley proposed that the brain exists, in part, to reduce stimuli in order to promote biological survival. Perhaps neurotypicals have an excellent filter, high-functioning autistics have a flawed filter, and low-functioning autistics have even less of a filter. Could it be that the lowest functioning autistic is experiencing the highest state of consciousness? Could all autists be experiencing an enlightenment so intense that fulfilling biological needs becomes frustrating and distracting at best (in the case of HFAs) and downright impossible at worst (in the case of LFAs)?

I am often shocked by the discrepancy between neurotypical accounts of autism and the subjective accounts of autistics. This discrepancy is strikingly similiar to that between clinical and subjective accounts of hallucinogen intoxication. While, from an outsider's perspective, the individual on LSD or mescaline may appear quite "disabled," the individual will often an report intensely spiritual, emotional and sensory experience often described as "life changing." Likewise, the autistic may appear very disabled to neurotypicals, but inquire about life from their perspective and while they will doubtlessly describe it as difficult (if they can describe it at all), you may be surprised by the magnificent inner-workings of their mind.



Perhaps this has often been proposed but I'm still new to this and find this hypothesis of particular interest. If autism truly is a form of advanced, rather than diminished brain functioning, a theory certain neurological tests are supporting, the public perception of autism will change drastically.

"advanced" and "diminished" are words so tightly bound to ideas on social value that I find them of little objective use. Autism is certainly a different form of consciousness if you except that the mind is defined entirely by the structures of the brain. But describing it as a higher state implies that existence itself is somehow enhanced by the presence of autistic minds. This delves far into philosophical musings. While it is entertaining to muse on such things, it isn't particularly fruitful to me when it comes to daily living.

There is a rumor going around that consciousness can be represented by a structural model.

Given our sometimes intense curiosity , slightly different perspective and endless capacity to contemplate and ponder , It may just be one of us that gets a glimpse of this.

I personally wouldn't go through what Huxley called the doors of perception ,but I do like the idea of a more focused , objective everyday reality.

Question I've been pondering - NT BS, war , poverty, human hierarchy based on these, and all life crap generated goes with it - do AS accept this as normal ? Like I say "pondering".

Interesting questions you are raising TM.

"Higher" is probably the wrong term as it implies superior. That is why I mentioned deficits. Higher awareness in one area naturally results in lower awareness in another.

It's becoming clearer with recent enquiries that life is never about consciousness, but about the occasionally-glimpsed workings of the unconscious mind-brain - Actions, not experiences. Our autistic hyperconsciousness that you allude to could therefore be described as 'living death', and the existence of a zombie the most complete form of life.

Last edited by undefineable on 03 Aug 2011, 4:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

I'm not sure if what we have is an advantage, or at least one that brings the rewards 'understanding' questioning and broader incisive perception leads it to believe you can. Maybe that's another illusion?

Since there are no confirmed objects of autistic people's perception, except perhaps for those autistics who are 'good with their hands' or with the physical world in general (that's not me, though I'm sure it's others here), I assume there's no 'incisive perception' as such, though as a philosopher my money's still on 'understanding questioning' of sorts

While it is true that, as the DSM states, I often "see lights and hear sounds that others do not" - occasionally witnessing physical events that the NTs around me miss because they were unaware that the activity was even going on in their vicinity - I also miss a great many nonverbal cues that they send each other, which limits my ability to functionally interact with others.

So my moment to moment state-of-awareness is clearly an alternate one to the state in which most humans exist, but not superior - just suited to different tasks. In a world dominated by NT-think, it is very much a handicap in most situations. On the other hand, I do think I have some interesting experiences and perceptions that they will never know, nor could they understand.

I'm really good with my hands, I do bricklaying and surface finishing for a living. When I get on a repetitive job and I have got it organized I can think and work at the same time. Sometimes I just want to work and be in the moment , other times I want to work and think. It's nice to move between the two. At the moment there are many flowers out in the gardens and I like to stop work and watch the bees and not think about them at all, just watch and listen to them. Thinking and not thinking seen to produce different sates of mind , I'm not sure if they could be objectify-able , but they feel like they have equal value , if different aspects of meaning, to me.

Christian Fundamentalism: Higher State of Consciousness = New Age = Demonic
Your post: Autism = Higher State of Consciousness
Conclusion: Autism = Demonic

Incidentally, my girlfriend belives autism is demonic. No it has nothing to do with this post. She told me it was demonic a year ago. So, independantly of this post.

Pros and cons to each. I think to NTs autists seem floaty and like they live in a drugged dream and to autists (well at least me), NTs seem like they're living in a drugged state of contentment.

Not surewhat to make of this.

One other fact: I've never "gotten" the need for drugs cause people's self-reported experiences on drugs sound like my daily life. The one "drug" I've tried (alcohol) actually makes me more NTish as confirmed by NTs.

Could it be because you ARE on drugs (namely, morphine-like compounds from poorly disgested gluten and casein)

Interesting! Is this common on the autistic spectrum? And are you referring to gluten/lactose intolerance? Do YOU experience it?

Yes I am referring to gluten/casein intolerance. Whether it is common or not I guess you can refer to the studies. There is no way to tell whether I personally experience it or not. I mean, if someone takes drugs every day, they won't know anything is wrong. The only way to know is NOT to be on drugs for a significant period of time. Similarly, in order to know whehter or not gluten/casein affect me as drugs, I have to be OFF OF THEM for a long period of time, which I never tried.

Interesting to note all the inventors and scientists who are on the spectrum and ADHD

Leading musicians, counter culturists, thinkers, theoreticians, writers, designers. I think some level of superiority should be assumed.

This is a fascinating topic to discuss and one I have come to the conclusion about (for myself) LONG before I knew about autism.

Not long after I was born (1963 so long before Aspergers), my Mother knew something was different about me. But I was smart and functioning okay so she just called me a martian (when prodded what that meant, she said, "Weird, loner child who would sit endlessly still and watch things")

Over the years, I had an awareness that I was different but it did not matter to me. I was thrown in with the cousins (large family) to integrate and so I did. After I became an adult I realized that I was different but my picture (martin) changed to an Angel because it felt like I had a higher awareness about so many things. NTs continually sought me out and sought my advice and opinion, stating that my views are unique.

Now this anecdote aside, I have to say that reading the majority of the posts on this site lead me to conclude that not all autism is created equal. I have to say the majority of the posts I read are comprised of people with ASD and comorbid depression/anxiety that keeps them from functioning at a any sort of level let alone a higher level. This is also true with the ASD people that I personally know. Many of them have so much inner "noise" about how broken they are that it is impossible to say that they are on any sort of "higher plane"