NarcissusSavage
Phoenix
Joined: Sep 03, 2009
Age: 31
Posts: 656
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 Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:04 am Post subject: Subconscious cross feed - theory of autism? |
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Has there been any exploration of the idea that autism could be explained by a mix up between functions of the brain. That functions that are normally handled by the subconscious are not, and being processed consciously instead, and vice versa?
It randomly occurred to me that this could explain a number of things about my own mind and how it seems to function, and I figured I might ask here to see if there is even a slight possibility of this being the case before looking into it any further.
It seems to me that this could explain a number of issues common, and even uncommon, about autism. Especially sensory issues, without being completely processed through the sub consciousness, senses being direct fed into the consciousness could have many abnormalities. Intensity for one.
Sometimes I personally can exhibit strange mental behavior, in that I can intuitively know something that intuition should be incapable of providing. Like the specific answer to a mathematical equation. (A semi active savant skill, so to speak) That is something that the consciousness usually processes, yet, my subconscious seems to do it instead. This seems applicable to many other savant behaviors as well. The lack of intuitive social learning, another example. This is something we need to consciously learn instead. The list would seem to go on, and seems to include just about everything that entails autism. Even that there is a spectrum, since it could be easily explained, given this preface, that the cross wiring is either more or less profound, in that more or less functions are being handled by the other consciousness. Or even being handled by both instead of just one.
This is very much in a fresh concept/budding stage, to me. I haven't truly explored all of the implications or compared it to all my existing information. It seemed an interesting line of inquiry to explore. But I don't really put any weight into it, basically.
But I am quite curious what anyone here might have to say about this possibility. A fellow ruminator wish to join me in pondering? |
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Cogs
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 13, 2012
Age: 21
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 5:39 am Post subject: |
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Yes, I have wondered this too. For other reasons, but essentially the same concept you have. However in my thinking I wouldnt go so far as to say autism is caused by it, more that it is a possible factor of autism? I dont know much about others on the spectrum other than from WP, so I am mostly basing this theorising on myself and what I have read. I will post specifics when my brain is in a better state for explaining things.
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kirayng
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Age: 36
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Location: Maine, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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I've experienced the same thing you do, and in school I can almost engage that subconscious process but as soon as my conscousness interferes or becomes aware of what my subconscious is doing I start to think about it and lose it completely. The way I do math in my head has not so far been understood by any of my instructors or counselors in the past.
I have an addition to your theory: Let me start with saying that NT's seem to wear their personalities (Ego) like a second skin. I call this a "filter" if you will because the role of the ego is to filter the subconscious from the conscious, with impaired executive functioning in autistic individuals, there is no filter or if it exists it's a two-way door rather than a one way door. This goes along with someone's theory (I can look it up) that people with schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders have no filter between conscious and subconscious.
NOw this totally goes into duality opposing a nondual reality, let me explain: the "cut-off" of inner/outer, self/other also matches this "filter" people have... this is a relational way of viewing reality and it is in part true (as in real) but also false because reality is actually nondual and our perception creates a division between what is experienced and the experiencer (you).
So this 'invisible veil' (See Buddhism-Mahayana(sp?) people put a lot of effort into making a separate entity-- themselves. People with mental illness, autism spectrum disorders and enlightened mystics/monks all have a very thin veil/filter, direct experience trumps any thought about it because thoughts are concepts.
I'm going to flesh this out more in detail later, as I have to go be social now at Easter gathering. >.< Good thoughts, I'll be happy to think this out with you-- I tend to go more philosophical but my special interests are metaphysics and "psych"ology.  |
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ThatKidInTheCorner
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: Apr 01, 2012
Posts: 32
Location: CANDYLAND.
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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| Ah, I once heard this theory before whilst wandering the Internet. A Subconscious-Conscious cross-feed would certainly explain many, many problems. Except the obsession over certain objects. I'm not sure how this could relate to either. However, I am only 14 (lovely excuse I have there), so I may just simply not have the experiance. |
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TheSunAlsoRises
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Joined: Dec 02, 2011
Posts: 1039
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| ThatKidInTheCorner wrote: | | Ah, I once heard this theory before whilst wandering the Internet. A Subconscious-Conscious cross-feed would certainly explain many, many problems. Except the obsession over certain objects. I'm not sure how this could relate to either. However, I am only 14 (lovely excuse I have there), so I may just simply not have the experiance. |
What would the subconscious mind gravitate toward IF it took precedence over the conscious mind ? ? What type of information would be primarily relevant to the sub-conscious? Would the sub-conscious mind process information differently?
TheSunAlosRises |
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kirayng
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Age: 36
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Location: Maine, USA
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| Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2012 8:39 pm Post subject: |
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http://www.afieldguidetoearthlings.com/preview.html
"Pattern 2. Symbolic filtering
The NT brain learns to categorize and direct
incoming signals. NT’s “catch” what comes at them;
this deadens the impact. The act of deadening or
filtering stimuli is called “symbolic filtering” (a term
developed for this book). Symbolic filtering converts
real world stimuli into an internal symbolic
representation of the real world. When the external
world is taken in as words, it is physically painless.
Because symbols are in the mind, the act of..."
For example, read more |
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Cogs
Phoenix
Joined: Feb 13, 2012
Age: 21
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 6:02 am Post subject: |
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My thoughts based on myself and very limited AS/NT research:
- There is research showing that AS may filter sensory input later than most people, this suggests maybe more conscious filtering. I am currently trying to learn how to filter out irrelevant background noise.
- Research shows HFA are less likely to be taken in by visual illusions and some gestalt principles of perception may not hold for some individuals.
- I think in concepts and visuals. Concepts are my core way of thinking. I have learned that other people have what is called ‘conceptual maps’ which are unconscious links between things, which sound in principle like something I do a lot of consciously. When I was studying math, I was aware of also processing some mathematical things on a conceptual level, such as seeing an equation and morphing it into the answer or using a visual number line to find averages, without going through the usual linear averaging process.
- I tend to consciously process body language, and will often not notice it unless I am looking for it.
- I wonder whether having very good verbatim memory has something to do with speech being consciously processed in me. When I am talking to someone who is very easy to understand and I unconsciously/less consciously interpret what they are saying I do not have such a good verbatim memory.
- AS are less likely to read between the lines, not sure if this maybe has something to do with that…
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Mysty
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Age: 43
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| Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 10:49 am Post subject: |
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I don't remember where I read it, and it was long ago, but I did read somewhere, in a book, the idea that people with autism are conscious of more than non-autistics. That is, that some things that are usually subconscious are conscious. It may have been in one of Temple Grandin's books that I read that, though I'm not sure.
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not aspie, not NT, somewhere in between
Aspie Quiz: 110 Aspie, 103 Neurotypical.
Used to be more autistic than I am now. |
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