Neurotypical vs. Neurodivergent Thinking — Opposites or Just Different Routes?

[Outdated]

I generally have photographic memory - this is what it's called apparently. I recall many things together with dates, addresses, page numbers, place on the page and so on.

Also called Eidetic memory, same thing but a more descriptive name.

 

[Vesta]

Interesting, I have read and viewed several sources which suggest that the "internal monologue" is very much an autistic trait. Mine is talking to me almost constantly...sometimes about 2 or 3 different topics. My mind is a storm.
EDIT: AI answer..."The presence of an internal narrator or monologue is not exclusive to either the autistic or neurotypical populations; it appears to be randomly distributed. Research indicates that while some individuals experience an internal monologue, others may think in images, feelings, or abstract concepts."

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001094522300206X


One source...I cannot recall to give credit...but he summarized it well when he said (paraphrasing), "Most neurotypicals use speaking as a social tool. The topic doesn't matter. Often frivolous, but none-the-less effective at creating social bonds. Whereas, most autistics may be non-verbal most of the time and only speak when information is to be shared. Speaking is not used as a social bonding tool."

Personally, unless I am interacting with you face-to-face, I am not thinking of you. "Out-of-sight, out-of-mind". I just don't think about people...at all. Now, I might see a funny Instagram post that reminds me of you and I will send it your way for a laugh, but otherwise, my mind is occupied by things, concepts, ideas, special interests...but definitely not people. I don't infer what was said. I don't read between the lines. I miss a lot of intent. I can be in the same room with people, experiencing the same things, and they will have an entirely different interpretation of what was said and done...it is sometimes amazing, concerning, and sometimes funny.

The story of my life.
1. I either know the topic very well...and can lecture for hours on the topic...aka monologuing, without a clue as to whether or not my students retained any of the information.
2. Monologuing on a topic and knowing the other person is either not interested nor is understanding...their eyes glazing over and them trying to leave.
3. Emotions clouding my brain and then not able to speak in full sentences nor with any sense of logic...the worst.
4. One-on-one reciprocal conversation skills are poor, at best...add a 3rd or 4th person and I simply become non-verbal. I can't keep up and don't know that split second to jump in and out of the conversation...very clumsy, awkward, and embarrassing.

According to the article, this person with autism tends to think in fragments rather than in full sentences, and they tend to use visual representations rather than verbal ones. This makes it difficult for them to express their thoughts in words, which can make it challenging for them to formulate their ideas. This issue was discussed on the forum, and participants noted that autistic thinking tends to be abstract. This is likely due to the lack of social interaction, as mentioned earlier. In the video, a young woman with autism shared her experiences and the challenges she faced with speech. She is almost unable to express her thoughts, although there has been some improvement over time.

 

[vergil96]

Also called Eidetic memory, same thing but a more descriptive name.

It scares the hell out of some people, as if they're being spied on

 

[UFO]

This is where you're probably getting confused. There are almost no publications by neurodivergent people, they all come from neurotypical people that might be well meaning but are not capable of understanding and never will be able to understand no matter how hard they try.

Not to mention that publications describe just a stereotypical and imaginary autistic person who has all the common traits, while truth is that a real autistic person has only selected few of those traits. It is just about probabilities: "66% of autistic people have this trait", "55% of autistic people this other trait" and so on. Then throw a dice for each trait to get your final personality.

Of course, the list can also say "40% of autistic people can have this trait and 30% can have completely opposite trait" and both neurodivergent and neurotypicals have their own such probability list and the trick is to do a statistical test which list one's list of symptoms match with a good confidence...

For example, my own son is high-functioning and excels in logical modelling, yet he also has a remarkably high pain threshold — something that doesn’t show up in standard ‘strengths and weaknesses’ lists. Traits like that are part of the reason I don’t believe in neat boxes or fixed labels.

Outdated and Neonatal can feel a pain but don't show it. I think (not sure if I remember correctly) one guy here has mentioned to actually not feel a pain. I am somewhere in-between: I can normally feel a pain, but one about half-liter glass of beer makes me to not notice second degree burn (happened twice)... I don't believe that such amount of an alcohol is enough to knock out pain receptors that well, unless there is some neurological issues helping.

Speaking is not used as a social bonding tool.

Thought I do it because it is expected and good behavior. I don't want to do it, meaning I don't have a need to do it, but I can do it, and it is not a bother.

Which reminds me how one of the first things I noticed on these forums was how people took socializing differently: There are people who are in a real pain with their incapability to find friends, love etc. while there are also people (like me) who don't have any actual need to create any kind of social relations.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

According to the article, this person with autism tends to think in fragments rather than in full sentences, and they tend to use visual representations rather than verbal ones. This makes it difficult for them to express their thoughts in words, which can make it challenging for them to formulate their ideas. This issue was discussed on the forum, and participants noted that autistic thinking tends to be abstract. This is likely due to the lack of social interaction, as mentioned earlier. In the video, a young woman with autism shared her experiences and the challenges she faced with speech. She is almost unable to express her thoughts, although there has been some improvement over time.

I am thinking this is an individualized experience. I can think in full sentences...paragraphs...lectures. I do like to use analogies and draw pictures on the whiteboard during my lectures, less so with speaking, but do from time to time. If there is any sort of abstract thinking, it is with my ability to visualize and manipulate things in my mind. Those mental pictures come and go...I can't hang on to them.

My personal issue is that, the words I am thinking rarely get reproduced in verbal language...and struggle with articulation of ideas in meaningful ways. I can if I really slow my mind down...but my mind must be in the "mode" and it is very much a conscious effort. I can if I am standing up front of the classroom and monologuing...not being interrupted.

I tend to write the same way I am thinking...with the pauses (you might have noticed), but my thinking is still much quicker than my speech, and as such, that delay can cause me issues with awkwardly stumbling over my tongue, not able to speak in complete sentences, perhaps some awkward silences...and during conversations, neurotypicals only see that as an opportunity to begin speaking and interrupt my train of thought further. My mind is much faster than my mouth. It can be quite frustrating trying to take the lead and present information only to be interrupted and verbally/audibly overwhelmed with someone else's thoughts before getting out what I wanted to say.

I don't have issues with people, in general, nor shy away from social interaction when need be. I have been in healthcare for some 40 years and a university instructor for 35. My thinking and verbal issues are more situational...and at my age, I suspect it's only going to decline.

 

[Vesta]

I am thinking this is an individualized experience. I can think in full sentences...paragraphs...lectures. I do like to use analogies and draw pictures on the whiteboard during my lectures, less so with speaking, but do from time to time. If there is any sort of abstract thinking, it is with my ability to visualize and manipulate things in my mind. Those mental pictures come and go...I can't hang on to them.

My personal issue is that, the words I am thinking rarely get reproduced in verbal language...and struggle with articulation of ideas in meaningful ways. I can if I really slow my mind down...but my mind must be in the "mode" and it is very much a conscious effort. I can if I am standing up front of the classroom and monologuing...not being interrupted.

I tend to write the same way I am thinking...with the pauses (you might have noticed), but my thinking is still much quicker than my speech, and as such, that delay can cause me issues with awkwardly stumbling over my tongue, not able to speak in complete sentences, perhaps some awkward silences...and during conversations, neurotypicals only see that as an opportunity to begin speaking and interrupt my train of thought further. My mind is much faster than my mouth. It can be quite frustrating trying to take the lead and present information only to be interrupted and verbally/audibly overwhelmed with someone else's thoughts before getting out what I wanted to say.

I don't have issues with people, in general, nor shy away from social interaction when need be. I have been in healthcare for some 40 years and a university instructor for 35. My thinking and verbal issues are more situational...and at my age, I suspect it's only going to decline.

It sounds like a sign of ADHD. I have a hard time articulating my thoughts clearly, especially in a language that is not my native language. I take a long time to think before I say something, and I struggle to form the right sentence. If I didn't worry about how to express myself, I think it would be much easier to talk. It's easier for me to memorize a long poem than to retell something in my own words. However, since I started reading books, it has become a bit easier.I didn't start speaking properly until I was 4 years old.

 

[vergil96]

I don't quite relate. I'm hard of hearing and I've always been, even if I got my hearing back now, I don't know if I will be able to achieve speech that isn't slow compared to most people. I didn't have speech delay as a child, but I see how it could have happened in less favourable conditions and it's not uncommon in my family to have speech delay. I have some issues with speaking, I very often don't hear and rely on other cues instead, it's not very natural for me to speak. Once I get tired, I don't speak any more. It's not an articulation problem, I have no issue writing or using sign language, making sounds out of my mouth is like a non-dominant hand for me. I have gone extended periods of time not being able to speak due to burnout, and I assure you that the usefulness of speaking is overrated. But maybe I had it easier, because I have a lifetime of people "talking" to me on a piece of paper and making gestures, because I couldn't understand what they were saying (screaming doesn't sound any clearer either). You pick it up intuitively in a situation like that. Seriously, you don't get to not communicate just like that, others will try hard to reach you before they give up and will put things in front of your nose and make you point until they get a result.

 

[Neonatal RRT]

It sounds like a sign of ADHD. I have a hard time articulating my thoughts clearly, especially in a language that is not my native language. I take a long time to think before I say something, and I struggle to form the right sentence. If I didn't worry about how to express myself, I think it would be much easier to talk. It's easier for me to memorize a long poem than to retell something in my own words. However, since I started reading books, it has become a bit easier.I didn't start speaking properly until I was 4 years old.

There is a fair amount of crossover in ADHD and autism. Plausible.