The Autistic Brain

Author: Lexi Campbell, Taproot Therapy Clinical Trainee

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed through observations and assessments of social, emotional, and behavioral patterns, by gathering a detailed developmental history, and by utilizing evidence-based standardized diagnostic tests, including the ADI-R and the ADOS. Many of the behavioral, social, and emotional challenges observed during the diagnostic process for ASD are linked to differences in the neurodivergent brain.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental condition in which brain development begins to differ at a very young age as compared to non-Autistic brains. Within all young brains, there is a burst of synaptic connection formation between infancy and the first few years of life, followed by a process called synaptic pruning in which excess connections in the brain are removed to support efficient responses to the given environment (Cafasso, 2018). Researchers have found that Autistic brains respond to their environment differently as they grow and develop, with the typical pruning process being disrupted in some way and leaving behind either excess synaptic connectivity or too little synaptic connectivity in various parts of the brain (Price, 2022). Each Autistic brain also differs in this connectivity— no one pattern of disrupted pruning occurs in Autistic brains, but instead, each Autistic brain has slight unique differences (researchers believe that non-Autistic brains follow a consistent pruning pattern, resulting in a neurotypical brain) (Price, 2022). Differences in synaptic connectivity contribute to differences in how Autistic brains process and filter information.

In addition to synaptic connectivity differences, research has identified differences in the development of the anterior cingulate cortex within Autistic brains, which is related to decision-making, emotional processing, and affect regulation (Zhou et al., 2016). Within the anterior cingulate cortex, Autistic brains also have reduced development of Von Economo neurons (VENs), which are brain cells that support the intuitive and rapid processing of complex situations (Cauda et al., 2014; Price, 2022). Autistic brain cells are also more excitable— in other words, the Autistic brain is activated easily and doesn’t filter out unnecessary information as quickly as Non-Autistic brains do (Takarae & Sweeney, 2017). 

These differences in the Autistic brain contribute to Autistic individuals sometimes responding more intensely to stimuli in their environment; having difficulty distinguishing and filtering information in their environment quickly and efficiently; sometimes becoming highly focused on details rather than the big picture; decision processes being more methodical and slower; often experiencing fatigue and burnout because processing situations takes more time and energy than it does for a neurotypical person, among many other unique experiences (Price, 2022). This all can lead the Autistic person to be vulnerable to Autistic burnout, which includes reduced tolerance to environmental stimuli, higher levels of stress, chronic fatigue, and other mental health challenges (Raymaker, 2022). Ways to support the Autistic brain and prevent Autistic burnout include authentically unmasking when in an accepting and safe environment, advocating for adjustments at work or school as needed, reducing workload or increasing the number of breaks throughout the day as needed, setting healthy boundaries, increasing social support within the neurodivergent community, learning the signs which signal that your Autistic brain is getting burned out, and implementing a neurodivergent-affirming self-care routine.


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References


Cafasso, J. (2018). What is Synaptic Pruning? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/synaptic-pruning
Cauda, F., Geminiani, G.C., & Vercelli, A. (2014). Evolutionary appearance of von Economo’s neurons in the mammalian cerebral cortex. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 8, https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.00104
Price, D. (2022). Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity. Harmony Books.
Raymaker, D. (2022). Understanding Autistic Burnout. National Autistic Society. https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/autistic-burnout
Takarae, Y. & Sweeney, J. (2017). Neural Hyperexcitability in Autism Spectrum Disorders. Brain Sciences, 7(10), https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci7100129
Zhou, Y., Shi, L., Cui, X., Wang, S., & Luo, X. (2016). Functional Connectivity of the Caudal Anterior Cingulate Cortex is Decreased in Autism. PloS One, 11(3), e0151879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0151879