spectrum recognition capabilities why is it so easy?
I realised that throughout my whole life I always subconsciously connected to other people on the spectrum and liked them.
Just wonder, how you can really see this and how you figure out that so quickly?
Nowadays when I walk around somewhere and for example wait for the bus or so or in the bus,
Id realise people that behave similarly than me and somehow there is some instinctive connection to them
Even earlier when I had no clue about autism spectrum I would still think the same about some "special people"
If you would talk to those people then youll feel quite quickly the common ground as well
Is this just the empathy that kicks in or the feeling. "That must be someone that I can more easily communicate with"?
What happens and what is it?
Anybody with similar experiences?
So if you look around you do you detect easily some "special people" and somehow start to think about them?
About your query: I don't know. But I do know what you mean. I've raised borzoi (Russian wolf hounds); a gentle shy breed and known to be temperamentally a bit offish. I can attest to the fact that while borzoi are OK with other dogs, they definitely sense another borzoi and they attract each other.
Although we are, by definition, presumably 'mindblind' to social nuances/emotional expression (you know what I mean), we can be keenly sensitive to the ambiance of others. Like a 6th sense.
_________________
The ones who say “You can’t” and “You won’t” are probably the ones scared that you will. - Unknown
I guess it is related to gut instinct and who I feel comfortable being near.
I definitely don't go out of my way to seek out "different" people, but the few friends I have ever had are all people who are in some way different, as I said many are foreigners in their country etc.
well,
interesting that you have similar experiences. Maybe this is normal though for all humans.
However, I think sort off it could be that wed choose people very carefully that wed want to have around us.
As a result of being otherwise rejected too often and from the need to be able to communicate efficiently and easily
with people that have similar experience horizon.
What I somehow though ponder is that how this works out. Do we have some own communication style that were not really aware of?
Or how does it come that we'll very easily get those things clear?
I mean there is maybe 10-20% of all humans that have "spectral properties" so not really that high amount.
But it is really that youll realize at least from some details how people work out. Just that this even happens without talking or other typical aspie communication methods.
If youd study those youd find out how we efficiently communicate with each other, and how this differs from NT-NT interactions
I was hesitant to write what I know, but it may be an explanation of the phenomenon you've described. Is communication beyond superficially connecting with another? Honestly, I don't know. But I have a plausible idea. (For context, without too much detail, I'm in the final year of my PhD and it deals with transmitters, but in another context).
The neurotransmitter dopamine exists in 4 isoforms. In those with an autistic spectrum disorder, it is known that our dopamine is predominantly in the form is isovanillic acid. Isovanillic acid happens to be the only form that exists as an aromatic esther. That is, it smells like vanilla. I suggest this tentatively; of course there's a plethora of biochemical markers. However, historically it has been mentioned that those individuals with autism smell mildly like vanilla. Notably I once read an account by a nurse from decades ago (era of Hans Asperger) who documented that when she entered his clinic, she was struck by their scent of vanilla. A long time on the Wrong Planet, a mother said her autistic son smelled like snickerdoodles (vanilla cookies)! I am inclined to believe this observation. Do we recognise vanilla on each other? Perhaps.
Before you're skeptical, recall that certain conditions certainly are associated with scent. There are dogs who can successfully 'sniff out' people with cancer. Indeed, this is now a recognised diagnostic tool. Individuals with diabetes, for instance, oftentimes smell fruity. Certain ethnicities can emit a scent, generally as a result of their diet. (Note that during WWII, the Japanese stated that Americans smelled buttery). Women who are ovulating emit a scent that is attractive to men, more than other times during their monthly cycle.
Those on the spectrum are known to have acute senses. Can we subtly identify each other via isovanillic acid?
_________________
The ones who say “You can’t” and “You won’t” are probably the ones scared that you will. - Unknown
Sorry for the double-post, but my guess would be our communication with another would be based upon our acute senses to detect interest or a commonality. Maybe more like how animals detect a friend, rather than on typical social cues.
_________________
The ones who say “You can’t” and “You won’t” are probably the ones scared that you will. - Unknown
I don't know for sure if I've met anyone else on the spectrum IRL. I definitely seem to like people who are a bit "odd or weird" in IRL, and in fiction. For example, my favorite Harry Potter character by far is Luna Lovegood. And River Tam from Firefly.
_________________
Standing on the fringes of life... offers a unique perspective. But there comes a time to see what it looks like from the dance floor.
---- Stephen Chbosky
ASD Diagnosis on 7-17-14
My Tumblr: http://jetbuilder.tumblr.com/
I don't know the answer to your question, but I can tell you that in any setting, my son is particularly deft at finding every odd and quirky kid in the setting. He has always been like this. Not all of them have diagnoses of anything, but all of them have traits. I am always astounded that the kids he brings home as friends are always so much like him in at least one way. Whether they share similar sensory integration issues, Aspie traits, or the profound disorganization of his ADHD, he always finds them. He is actually in his glory in middle school because now that the kids mix more, he has the largest group of friends he has ever had. I think 6 or 7 at this point. They are all quirky as far as I know (haven't met them all yet), and the most "normal" sounding of them all from my son's descriptions, is brilliant, but shy, and a first generation immigrant. Just mentioning that because others have mentioned feeling connected with foreigners.
I did not have this ability as a child. I wish I would have. It probably would have saved me the years of humiliation I felt from so desperately trying to fit in with the "in" crowd. I also do not think my daughter has it.
Vanilla is my favorite scent, btw. I often use vanilla scented lotion.
_________________
Mom to 2 exceptional atypical kids
Long BAP lineage
The neurotransmitter dopamine exists in 4 isoforms. In those with an autistic spectrum disorder, it is known that our dopamine is predominantly in the form is isovanillic acid. Isovanillic acid happens to be the only form that exists as an aromatic esther. That is, it smells like vanilla. I suggest this tentatively; of course there's a plethora of biochemical markers. However, historically it has been mentioned that those individuals with autism smell mildly like vanilla. Notably I once read an account by a nurse from decades ago (era of Hans Asperger) who documented that when she entered his clinic, she was struck by their scent of vanilla. A long time on the Wrong Planet, a mother said her autistic son smelled like snickerdoodles (vanilla cookies)! I am inclined to believe this observation. Do we recognise vanilla on each other? Perhaps.
Before you're skeptical, recall that certain conditions certainly are associated with scent. There are dogs who can successfully 'sniff out' people with cancer. Indeed, this is now a recognised diagnostic tool. Individuals with diabetes, for instance, oftentimes smell fruity. Certain ethnicities can emit a scent, generally as a result of their diet. (Note that during WWII, the Japanese stated that Americans smelled buttery). Women who are ovulating emit a scent that is attractive to men, more than other times during their monthly cycle.
Those on the spectrum are known to have acute senses. Can we subtly identify each other via isovanillic acid?
Really interesting. Vanilla, hehe.
But how does this relate to that autism is a spectrum? Does this mean that all people on spectrum have some genes that would produce some isovanilic acid?
This would mean it would be a very easy diagnostic tool.
And youd probably also relatively easily find out the gene that is responsible for it, or how is it?
This would really produce some new things in genetics of autism, like inheritance. Some thing to start with.
I mean my whole family is I guess on the spectrum except maybe my father.
And my mothers mother, my mothers grandma, all similar characters.
Its quite often it seems the mothers that carry the genes on? I just havent really yet heard of autistic father and NT mother families so much
I mean any chance that this is somehow coupled to the X chromosome and it would be recessive . such that youd get more men affected due to the second missing X?
That would mean that all sons of mothers on the spectrum would be on the spectrum as well and if the father is on the spectrum as well than the whole family including the daughters would get it
and if the spectrum genes are quite wide spread, then probably youd choose a partner on the AS. Such that youd also prevent it from dying out.
(Thank good, otherwise we would be all stupidly following some rules without thinking and we would not have had these wonderful scientists like Newton, Einstein, Tesla and more)
Just some thinking, of course
LabPet!
That is fascinating research! I would love to hear more about it sometime, do ou have any threads started discussing it? For a long time, in my early 20s especially, I sometimes thought that I (my body) smelled like a candy store... maybe it is associated with vanilas! ha
OP, I also have found myself naturally collecting aspie friends, some of whom reject the label but some have gradually, after my own discovering and diagnosis, coe to accept that they have very autistic tendencies. I think the reason we came together in life is because we enjoyed the quiet company of each other, we didnt like the usual activities of other young people, we accepted each other and didnt point out our social shortcomings, and we had similar special interests that allowed us to form a bond. also people with massive anxiety will be happy to be friends just online or once every few months going out to a movie and wont drop you for being a bad friend for not attending the bar scene or the football games or whatever thing more social friends expect you to attend. my two cents.
_________________
Your Aspie score: 165 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 48 of 200
EQ 12 SQ 70 = Extreme Systemizer
I did not have this ability as a child. I wish I would have. It probably would have saved me the years of humiliation I felt from so desperately trying to fit in with the "in" crowd. I also do not think my daughter has it.
Vanilla is my favorite scent, btw. I often use vanilla scented lotion.
Just out of interest, this is related to the genetics crazy idea I had.
Your man is NT and doesn't even have any signs of spectrum? Is that right?
(I mean if your daughter doesn't have it and that vanilla gene is on X chromosome and recessive)
Maybe we should all go and buy some vanilla detectors and study our families, grandmas and grandpas, how they smell. hahaha
I did not have this ability as a child. I wish I would have. It probably would have saved me the years of humiliation I felt from so desperately trying to fit in with the "in" crowd. I also do not think my daughter has it.
Vanilla is my favorite scent, btw. I often use vanilla scented lotion.
Just out of interest, this is related to the genetics crazy idea I had.
Your man is NT and doesn't even have any signs of spectrum? Is that right?
(I mean if your daughter doesn't have it and that vanilla gene is on X chromosome and recessive)
Maybe we should all go and buy some vanilla detectors and study our families, grandmas and grandpas, how they smell. hahaha
The kids' father does not have ADHD nor ASD. No "spectrummy" traits. He can be rigid, but he does not have social issues at all and his executive functioning skills appear to be intact.
I have no official diagnosis but am 100% certain I have ADD. I would consider myself a shadow Aspie. My daughter has a diagnosis of ASD. My son has a diagnosis of NVLD and ADHD. For extended reference...my dad is likely an Aspie, as is my brother. One sister I would consider BAP-ish (but the kink in the works is that her identical twin shares no traits except perhaps a strong need for order and organization...incidentally, she married a man who is somewhere on the BAP and their oldest daughter might be on the spectrum), I have cousins--on my father's side--who either have AS or who have traits. My dad's dad appears to be NT, but my grandma has horrific interpersonal skills. No diagnosis of anything, but her interpersonal difficulties are so severe that one has to wonder if there is a neurological basis for it. My dad's grandpa (his mom's dad) had perfect episodic memory and was eccentric, but I do not know enough about him to know if he could have had AS, though reports would indicate that he was not your typical person.
Edit to add: My mom is the poster-child for being NT. Not a spectrummy trait to be found.
_________________
Mom to 2 exceptional atypical kids
Long BAP lineage
That is fascinating research! I would love to hear more about it sometime, do ou have any threads started discussing it? For a long time, in my early 20s especially, I sometimes thought that I (my body) smelled like a candy store... maybe it is associated with vanilas! ha
OP, I also have found myself naturally collecting aspie friends, some of whom reject the label but some have gradually, after my own discovering and diagnosis, coe to accept that they have very autistic tendencies. I think the reason we came together in life is because we enjoyed the quiet company of each other, we didnt like the usual activities of other young people, we accepted each other and didnt point out our social shortcomings, and we had similar special interests that allowed us to form a bond. also people with massive anxiety will be happy to be friends just online or once every few months going out to a movie and wont drop you for being a bad friend for not attending the bar scene or the football games or whatever thing more social friends expect you to attend. my two cents.
@LabPet yes, same here. Great thing that you found that out! Is this connected to your research?
Well related to this common experiences thing I just wondered if there is something more. And it seems there is.
I mean from your friends you cant really see that, because you have learnt to know them differently than just this intuitive thing, or how is it?
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