Is the perception a part of or caused by Autism?

[CaveDweller]

How does the heightened perception thing work and is it inbuilt or because of the condition. I'm newly diagnosed and finding my way still.

 

[Naturalist]

By "perception", are you referring to sensory sensitivities, or the ability to make extensive associations, or emotional perceptions?

Generally speaking, I think the current understanding suggests that there is heightened perception wherever there is an extensive amount of neuronal connectivity between the sensory receptors and the various regions of the brain which process the information acquired by those receptors.

If you have a particular instance in mind, I might be able to supply a less generalized response, but I hope this is on the right track.

 

[CaveDweller]

By "perception", are you referring to sensory sensitivities, or the ability to make extensive associations, or emotional perceptions?.

Yes, I mean the ability to make associations and emotional perceptions, which is a much better way of putting it than I did. It's just something I had always been aware of before I was diagnosed but didn't really understand how it works. I had always thought that it was maybe because I was always on the outside of conversations which gave me a greater vantage point to make judgements. The research as you explained it seems to suggest it's in the wiring. Thanks for your help. As I said, I'm still trying to make sense of how I tick now I know I have the condition.

 

[Naturalist]

Yes, I mean the ability to make associations and emotional perceptions, which is a much better way of putting it than I did. It's just something I had always been aware of before I was diagnosed but didn't really understand how it works. I had always thought that it was maybe because I was always on the outside of conversations which gave me a greater vantage point to make judgements. The research as you explained it seems to suggest it's in the wiring. Thanks for your help. As I said, I'm still trying to make sense of how I tick now I know I have the condition.

That is a good point, about observing from the outside. That is likely how some of those extra connections between neurons are formed or reinforced, through extensive observation of not part, but all, of what is happening in a given moment. Like adding lanes to a highway that gets a lot of traffic.

I just read another article about neuroconnectivity, but it will take a bit to relocate it for you...

 

[CaveDweller]

I just read another article about neuroconnectivity, but it will take a bit to relocate it for you...

I would appreciate that if you could. Cheers.

 

[Naturalist]

I would appreciate that if you could. Cheers.

I did find it again, finally (one of them at least):

Brain connections give clues to sensory problems in autism —

Also, Temple Grandin's "The Autistic Brain" is a good read for this topic. She discusses the science in lay terms.

 

[CaveDweller]

I did find it again, finally (one of them at least):

Brain connections give clues to sensory problems in autism —

Also, Temple Grandin's "The Autistic Brain" is a good read for this topic. She discusses the science in lay terms.

Thank you, I really do appreciate that.