Map of the Neurological Spectrum

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To aid my own neurological confusion, I drew this map of the various neurological types out there, at least some of them. I won’t claim that this shows every area of the neurological spectrum; for example, it doesn’t include the schizophrenia spectrum, which I haven't researched as much.
In reality, neurology is much to complex to be reduced to a 2D image. The map would need to be at least 3D (probably 4D or 5D) to show the true diversity of human neurology. The basic concept here is that the entire range of neurological types is a spectrum, and several areas within that spectrum have been given specific labels, such as autism, ADHD, OCD, and neurotypical. There are also 'gray areas' (actually white areas in this picture) that do not fall neatly into any spectrum.

Thoughts, comments? Do you think this is accurate, or do you have any suggestions on how to improve it?

Disclaimer: I am not a neurologist or a psychologist. This is based on my own opinions, musing, and research about neurology, which may or may not have any scholarly merit.

Although it's not recognized separately in the DSM-V, I wonder if a third colored area under ADHD and OCD might be sensory integration dysfunction?

You might also like to add one for a disorder I can't remember the name of, but it's something like disaffection disorder, for those who don't bond well with others, or feel alienated from others. I think that falls closer to or within the Autism spectrum. It may also overlap into schizophrenia.

I do agree that 3D would give a better representation of it all, but that's not possible here. There are also a number of other conditions that fall more under mental illness rather than pure disorder, that would have to have their own area on the map. Things like depression, paranoia, sociopathy, psycosis, etc.

I don't consider Autism/Asperger's disorders to be mental illnesses. They fit my definition of a disorder, not a mental illness. My chronic depression does fit the mental illness criteria, though, but at least it's under better control now that I am living alone. When I was living with relatives we drove one another crazy. This was very stressful and made my depression worse. Living alone is definitely better for me.

Good point. Maybe if I do a second draft I will add something like that.

Schizoid personality disorder?

I haven't heard of this one, but I will look for it. It sounds just like dysfunctionally strong introversion.


This picture is supposed to show neurological differences, not mental illnesses. A neurological difference is not considered a disorder unless it impairs the person's ability to function, and even then, I would separate neurological disorders from mental illnesses. Things like depression develop over time and are often influenced by the environment, whereas neurological differences are more permanent because they are hardwired into the brain, often before birth or in early childhood.
Other the other hand, psychopathy probably does belong somewhere on the the neurological spectrum, but I'm not sure where.

With the current spectrum it appears NT is the opposite of Autism, and OCD is the opposite of ADHD. With the two demensions it appears to factors are being compared, what they are I don't know. Anyway, for each mental factor you are comparing another dimension would need to be added. Here are a few:

1. Executive Functioning
2. Cognitive Empathy
3. Affective Empathy
4. Obsessive Tendencies
5. Spatial Intelligience
6. Verbal Intelligience
7. Working Memory
8. Long Term Memory
9. Processing Speed
10. And more...

Something tells me autism is going to look like a distorted blob going all over the place. As much as I want a realistic visual display of the autistic spectrum, its simply to complex to accurately draw.