Ok, I have a theory :)

Post Reply New Topic

(but I have been up all night though so it may be completely flawed lol)

From what I have gathered, most people with AS seem to have issues with sensory stimuli. There are different theories around, of course, but I like the one that implies that there is a hypersensitivity to sensory stimuli.

So, imagine a person goes out into the World and has this overload influx of stimuli into their brains that overrides everything - for some reason the brain can't cope with it all, and it is all a big, confusing, jumbled mess.

Before I go on, let me bring in a point that I was contemplating earlier, whilst at work in its horrid noisy, hot/cold, smelly, bright lights environment. You have to become very good at learning how to block all that stuff out. Which naturally leads to having to focus on one thing intently, doesn't it? It is what I often try to do anyway.

So, after years of doing this, this would certainly build up a skill in being able to - in fact, to even prefer to - hyperfocus on one particular thing, yes? Hence, the narrow special interests.

Also, if the sensory stimuli has overwhelmed the brain and left it in a state of confusion, perhaps the reaction is to find a NON-emotional area to take over. Hence, why people with AS tend to be over-analytical about everything. Perhaps this is the part of the brain that is sought and used due to a faulty system with the emotional/sensory stuff.

So, we have a person who is good at and has a preference for focusing on certain narrow interests, with a very skilled analytical brain.
Within this population, there is a difference in intelligence. Perhaps the more intelligent people are better able to use their analytical part of their brain than people with a lower intelligence in this area, and hence become higher functioning in certain ways.
They use this part of their brain to navigate them through the World. This is why, potentially, in social interactions, one intellectualises it. They are being bombarded with so much stimuli that the part of the brain a NT would usually use to interact, gets confused in an AS person and they can't use that part of the brain to do what a NT would do. So, they may in fact GET some correct data, AND some incorrect data. BUT they still use their intellect to navigate through this interaction. Once again, the more intelligent a person, the more likely they will navigate through it correctly.

Meltdowns might occur when the sensory stimuli take over the analytical part and hence it all just shuts down and is too much.

Hence, my theory is that it all stems from the hypersensitivity of the sensory integration system (is that what it's called? Argh, I am tired lol).

Though, in thinking, how does this work with regard to people being able to be good at pinpointing certain noises, and certain smells, etc?

Am sure there are many more holes.. lol Is fun to think though he he

Thanks for listening I'm going to bed and will probably wake up in the morning with a fresh brain and reply to my own post with a "What on Earth were you thinking?" message lol

Possibly. I know I am hypersensitive. And there's speculation that hyposensitivity is a reaction to hypersensitivity. I do not know though.



I find there's two strategies that work. Maybe even in parallel. You can focus on one thing, to the exclusion of all other stimulus. Or you can allow all stimulus to flow through you, making every attempt to let stimulation go, and flow through without putting in any storage or processing.

In a situation where I have to do stuff, act, get things done, hyperfocus is my go to method.



Hyperfocus is one strategy for dealing with a world that is excessively distracting.



I feel the need to point out that emotions are themselves sensory stimulation.



Well, it seems to me that there's a few things that could be happening here. Here's how I see it; The stereotypical aspie has a well developed ability for abstract thinking, systematic thinking. And often there is a significant impairment of what I am going to dub 'self emotional intelligence' in aspies; Alexythimia. Without some kind of strategic and systematic way to build that, one usually attempts to apply that systematic and abstract intelligence to emotional matters, or simply ignoring or suppressing emotional information altogether.



I believe that our brains have difficulty determining what sensations need to be dealt with, and which can be ignored, let go of, or given only cursory attention.


I'm not entirely sure I am in agreement over some of the details of your theory, though I think you are on the right track... I believe that at least some of the problems that come with autism can be alleviated through systematic mind/brain training. I am interested in creating tailor made meditation programs for autistic people. Here's a taste http://recollection.posterous.com/senso ... meditation



Not sure what you mean here. How does this work how?



Maybe. I find it fun. I like jumping into a spontaneous idea.



You're welcome.

I think you're onto something, the details are maybe a bit hazy though.

I think there might be further stuff going on with fear/anxiety responses, and the amygdala.

Similar ideas have come up before. It seemed like about half of the people who responded fit your description, so your ideas are probably pretty good for them.

Dear analyer23,

your theory is the same thing that i also suspect , and btw also scientists like olga bogdashina.

One thing i want to add: It is not only sensory hypersensitivity, but can also be emotional sensitivity, it may not be noly stimuli from the outside, but also from the inside. All autistics have some varying sensitivities.

These cause that their social development goes a different way. For example, they don't learn eye contact like others do, because of the higher emotional and sensory stress which is connected with it for them.

And this also explains, why female aspies are not so often identified, its because they learn better socially, and they are expected to be hypersensitive abit, at least emotionally.

Furthermore, there is also another great perspective to all this. I once read the anthropology of Herder. He therein compares animals and humans. He says that animals are restricted to their area, to their setting of life, therein they function very well, because they got fast instincts which determine their behavior. Human beings on the other side, the are not such restricted in the stimuli they perceive, the have the danger of an overflow of stimuli (also referenced by philosopher Arnold Gehlen), they can perceive more, and therefore also have more options in their life, they are not restricted to their little setting.

And exactly herein, in the anthropology fits perfectly in my, and also your theory of autism: There is no strict line between animals and humans, in what kind of stimuli they perceive, and even further, how they handle that data, how complex. There is a spectrum, the so called "autistic spectrum", between animals and humans, which specifies how many stimuli are processed, how sensitive the living being is. And there is always that tradoff: the more is perceived and transformed more complex, the more likely will there be some sort of overload, but on the other side, there is also more freedom, more choices, and the being has to learn to develop their choices.

one further note: i am abit unhappy, that also others have found my theory. May I not be happy? ... i always have this, this wanting to be the only one. .... thats probably some aspie trait... ... as well... but thats probably another topic ....

thanks for your post,
anton

Take a look at this:

Intense World Syndrome

I have this same theory as well.

This sensory and emotional overload is the cause of our social dysfunction.

AS/Autism is actually a sensory issue. The social dysfunction is a symptom.

Ah yes that makes sense. I know that for me, anyway, I feel like I can't get excited about stuff anymore these days. Mainly due to the fact that I used to get SO excited that I couldnt sleep, and everything was affected, and then if what I was looking forward to didn't happen, I would crash BIG time. So now my brain has learnt to just not get excited in the first place. It's sad.


Wow, the second strategy you mention sounds intriguing. I am not sure I understand 100%. I wonder if it is similar to an episode of depression I had last year where I ended up, instead of analysing it and "fixing" it to death, I just decided to BE depressed and be IN that feeling for a while. By doing this, the feeling flowed through me and left eventually, I found that fascinating. Is this similar to what you mean?


Yes, absolutely. And I wonder if this was more an unconscious result rather than a conscious one, from an early age. Where the brain just had no choice but to seek another way of dealing with things, hence it went to the analytical part.


Good point And I get just as overwhelmed with my inner stuff too - pain, emotions, etc.


Yes, absolutely.


Yes, that is well said.


Yes, the details are indeed hazy. It was still in major "big picture" mode and I found it very exciting I get the big picture stuff first, then I go through and test/check details, and I knew a few of you guys here would be able to help me out with this stuff, as you did
I love that you are looking into meditiation for something like this. I find meditation so helpful also. Your idea sounds great, and I would love to hear more, the further you develop it

.
This was the point my brain totally shut down on me after a huge night shift session at work lol What I think I was thinking was that if it all becomes a mess inside the sensory integration system and the brain is unable to distinguish certain things nor know what to do with them, how then can people ALSO be able to hone in on a particular sensory input to a degree greater than most NTs.... (like, hearing pitches in sound that others can't detect, etc).


The amygdala is a fascinating part of the brain. I got really into it during my Uni course. I can't wait til they learn more about it all.

Thanks so much for the time and thought you put into my post, most appreciated

yes, this is like what moog said above, also. And I think you're both right, absolutely!

Yes, that all makes sense also. Also, other females can make it easier for a female aspie (note I say CAN, certainly not always) in examples such as, if after say a Course on something, one female in the group will just automatically swap numbers with everyone in the group, just because they are there (and if you are a female aspie that just doesn't talk much, rather than say the wrong things, then people can just assume you are quiet/not a threat/just another number to add to their group/a mystery). For males to do that whole "let's all swap numbers and catch up for a coffee", it is less accepted. Hence a male might have to go to greater lengths to find "friends". Hmm but this is a whole topic on its own.


Wow that sounds intriguing. It is interesting to look at how animals behave compard with humans due to that whole simple vs complex (i.e. made up of numerous examples of "simple" all put together) aspect.
NTs seem quite capable in processing the multitude of sensory stimuli, though. So I wonder what the difference between an NT brain and an AS really is (yes, the big question! ) in that regard. I can't wait til they stumble across this knowledge


I am with you on this one!! lol I spoke about this a bit in my "I was thinking..." post just recently in this section. I get very much like that also. Don't worry though, we can stamp it as your theory.... (she says, whilst looking up how to copyright it first... he he j/k lol)

Thanks for your answer [/quote]

Wow, very concisely put Nice

The theory of intense world syndrome basicly describes what you come to on your own...what can I say, great minds think alike

Possible, but I don't think it fully explains everything. It leaves holes that may be nothing but may be warnings that the theory is inaccurate or insufficient. However, plenty of people who have responded have found it helpful.

The Intense World theory is very interesting, thankyou for the link!! I haven't had time to fully absorb it yet, rushing around, but that'll be great to read thoroughly when I have time

Dandelionfireworks: I agree. My post was not anything like a fully polished, no holes theory Just a basic idea that I felt fit and was wondering what feedback people had.
I am very curious to hear the holes that you see in it?

It would seem Autism/AS is such a broad genre. I can see how it could potentially actually be more than one "disorder" which all present with similar "symptoms" also. A friend suggested that while perhaps some people may have hyPERsensitivity which present these symptoms, perhaps others with hyPOsensitivity present with similar ones. Or, as previously mentioned, maybe both hyper and hypo are both connected.

Also, even within the spectrum, everyone has different personalities. And even if it was the same underlying cause, that cause then filters through the person's "personality" and presents with different "symptoms" yet again. So while some may have a certain type of stimming movement - hand flapping, etc, others may not. Hand flapping may just be what that person's brain has lead to due to other areas of their brain, or whatever.

I do talk in sweeping generalities, I am a big picture person. So I would be happy to hear which details anyone sees is missing/different in what I was saying, please do!

hello,

just read the newest books of olga bogdashina, she explains the differing sensory processing of us autistics e.g. hypersensivitiy as well as hyposensitivity in great detail.

byebye,
anton

I didn't read all of your post, BUT...I've had a thought almost identical to this in the past.

I made a thread about the MBTI and low latent-inhibition in AS. Doesn't it seem like people with AS take in A LOT of extra details and pieces of their surroundings, while having the narrow focus at the same time? It does. I agree with you.

I was also thinking that the narrow focus may be in part due to trying to tune OUT all of the extra information that comes in.

This is true for me, anyway. I've only been diagnosed with ADHD but from what I've read on these forums, many people with AS are DXed with it too or otherwise sound very much like me.

One problem is that it does not apply to all Aspies. From what I can see, it applies really well to some Aspies.

I'm about 90% sure that I am an Aspie, and I have few sensory issues. My problems are more in the area of focus and maybe what might be called social blindness. I really find it very difficult to pay attention to some people. I don't know why. I just can't focus on them. I'm more preoccupied with other things. I suspect that I am unable to see certain things that NTs see automatically. I suspect that when autism is fully understood, it will be found to be a collection of similar diseases. I think that highly sensitive people will be one major type, but that there will be other types.

I know that the part about the people more able to be analytical being "higher functioning" is untrue, or at least only partially true. Because I have known a whole lot of people who had always been labeled "low functioning" who were highly analytical in nature.

I think you may be partly right though in all of this, although so far you've mostly covered only certain areas of the spectrum. (Not the area I'm on, at least not that I could detect while exhausted, in pain, and having reading problems.)