#sensoryprocessing — Public Fediverse posts

DATE: August 13, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Single dose of rapamycin rapidly reduces autism-like traits in adult mice

URL: https://www.psypost.org/single-dose-of-rapamycin-rapidly-reduces-autism-like-traits-in-adult-mice/

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that exposing mice to mild inflammation during pregnancy triggers brain and behavioral changes in their offspring that resemble autism spectrum disorder. The research provides evidence that a single dose of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin can rapidly but temporarily reverse these symptoms in adult mice by altering brain function rather than physical structure.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex condition associated with diverse changes in brain development, behavior, and sensory processing. One known risk factor is maternal immune activation, which occurs when a pregnant mother experiences an infection or inflammation. This inflammatory response can alter the development of the fetal brain. In both human and animal studies, such early immune events are linked to later neurodevelopmental differences, including increased brain volume in early life, altered social behaviors, and heightened sensitivity to sensory input.

At the cellular level, many of these changes are associated with the overactivation of the mTOR pathway. The mTOR pathway is a biological signaling network that regulates cell growth, division, and survival. When this system is hyperactive, it tends to lead to abnormal synapse formation, an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory brain signals, and an increased susceptibility to seizures.

“We have a longstanding interest in the mTOR system in brain development and autism spectrum disorder,” said study authors Harley Kornblum, director of the UCLA Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and a professor of psychiatry, pediatrics, and pharmacology; Neil Harris, a professor of neurosurgery; and Janel Le Belle, an associate professor of neurosurgery. “Our earlier study also led by Dr. Le Belle showed that mild maternal inflammation in a strain of mouse activated the mTOR system and resulted in many behaviors reminiscent of autism and that are also found in genetic mouse models in which we know that the affected genes cause autism in people.”

Rapamycin is an established drug that inhibits the mTOR pathway. It is commonly used in medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection. In previous animal research, treating young mice with rapamycin over several weeks prevented the physical brain abnormalities associated with certain genetic mutations linked to autism.

“We were interested in trying treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, which is used in children with disorders that activate the mTOR pathway,” the researchers added. However, chronic use of rapamycin can suppress the immune system and inhibit healthy growth. The authors designed this study to observe what happens when adult mice receive a short-acting, single dose of the drug, focusing on immediate functional changes in the brain rather than long-term structural remodeling.

The authors triggered a mild maternal inflammatory response in pregnant mice by injecting them with lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial compound that induces an immune reaction. This low dose was designed to provoke a response without making the pregnant mice noticeably ill. The offspring were then raised to early adulthood or older adulthood, creating experimental groups of male and female mice to compare against a control group that received a harmless saline solution.

The researchers first evaluated the physical and molecular characteristics of the offspring exposed to maternal inflammation. They tracked brain weights from birth to 200 days old for 16 mice per group. The exposed mice experienced mild brain overgrowth early in life compared to the control group, but by day 200, this growth had slowed, resulting in brain weights slightly below the control average.

The exposed mice also maintained chronically elevated levels of immune proteins, known as cytokines, in their blood. Their brain tissue showed persistent overactivation of the mTOR pathway. To see if immune cells were driving the ongoing issues, the researchers depleted microglia, a type of brain immune cell, in some mice. This reduction improved behaviors in young adult mice but failed to help older adult mice, suggesting that other functional mechanisms maintain the behavioral traits later in life.

To test behavior, the scientists observed groups of 26 mice in open field tests. The exposed mice spent roughly twice as much time engaging in repetitive behaviors, such as grooming and circling, compared to the control mice. When the researchers administered a single injection of rapamycin at a dose of 5 milligrams per kilogram, the repetitive behaviors in the exposed mice dropped to match the levels seen in the control mice within two hours.

“We were very surprised by the rapidity of the effects of rapamycin,” the researchers told PsyPost. “We expected that if the mTOR system was still activated in the adult, it would be influencing the structure of how brain cells connect with each other, which would mean that anticipated effects would take longer than just a few hours.”

This behavioral rescue was temporary, as the repetitive behaviors returned to their previous elevated levels 72 hours later. The authors also tested daily injections over five weeks in groups of 10 mice. They found that the mice developed a tolerance to the drug, leading to a gradual loss of its behavioral benefits.

The study also measured sensory over-responsivity, a common trait where individuals are highly sensitive to touch or sound. Using groups of eight mice, the researchers tested tactile avoidance by placing the animals in a box with both smooth and rough floor surfaces. The exposed mice actively avoided the rough-textured floor, spending less time there than the control mice. Following a single dose of rapamycin, the exposed mice increased their time spent on the rough floor, indicating a normalization of their sensory tolerance.

Sensory sensitivities can disrupt daily life and exacerbate other challenges. “Our results point to a significant role of the sensory system in our mouse model and its correction with rapamycin,” the authors noted. “Sensory symptoms are known to be highly disabling in autism and now there is some evidence that abnormalities in sensory responsiveness may contribute to many of the behaviors that we don’t normally view as being mediated by the sensory system.”

Because sensory and behavioral changes often relate to how brain cells fire, the researchers examined the electrical activity of individual brain cells. They analyzed brain slices from 24 mice per group, focusing on pyramidal neurons in the sensory cortex. The neurons from the exposed mice exhibited a higher frequency and amplitude of spontaneous electrical discharges compared to the control neurons, indicating hyper-excitability. Treating the mice or the brain slices with rapamycin quickly reduced this hyperactivity.

To test this hyper-excitability in living animals, the researchers administered a seizure-inducing chemical to groups of eight mice. All eight exposed mice experienced visible seizures at a high dose, compared to only two out of eight control mice. Rapamycin administration lowered the severity of the seizure scores in the exposed group.

To observe brain-wide communication, the authors used functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan 16 mice per group. This technique measures functional connectivity, which tracks how different brain regions synchronize their activity. The exposed mice displayed higher levels of connectivity than the control mice, particularly between sensory processing areas and subcortical regions like the thalamus. Following the two-hour rapamycin treatment, this hyper-connectivity decreased in the sensory cortex and reorganized across the brain, restoring the functional network to a state that closely resembled the control mice.

This neural reorganization provides evidence that specific circuits remain adaptable in adult mice. The average person should take away the idea “[t]hat some behaviors associated with autism can improve, even after the brain has matured,” the authors said. “Furthermore, we have identified the pathways (connections) in the brain that are influenced in this mouse model and that are altered with rapamycin.”

Finally, the researchers analyzed gene expression in the brain cells. They found that the exposed mice had altered activity in genes related to ion channels, which control the flow of electrical charges in and out of cells. After the acute rapamycin treatment, the expression of genes associated with brain cell excitability and autism risk quickly shifted back toward typical levels. This indicates that the drug works by rapidly adjusting the molecular balance of excitation and inhibition.

The findings from this study rely on a specific animal model of maternal inflammation, and physiological responses seen in mice do not directly translate to human neurodevelopment. Because rapamycin has strong immunosuppressive properties, it is not a practical daily treatment for behavioral or sensory symptoms in humans.

“We don’t believe that rapamycin or its close relatives that are currently used clinically will be the ‘cure’ for autism,” the authors cautioned. “First, our effects were temporary and wore off after several treatments. Second, as a class of medications, they can have significant side effects, especially immunosuppression.” They emphasized that they “would not recommend treatment with these medications outside of the conditions for which they are approved.”

Instead of acting as a direct treatment, the drug helps reveal underlying mechanisms for scientists to target. “We look at our findings as a fulcrum to further study autism-associated behaviors and symptoms and how they can be treated,” the authors explained.

Moving forward, the research team plans to explore other interventions. “In one set of studies we are trying to discover the downstream molecular pathways by which rapamycin acts so that we can potentially develop new therapies,” they said. “In the other approach, we are investigating the neural pathways that are misregulated in our model to see if these pathways can be functionally manipulated by therapeutic means, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation.”

The study, “Acute rapamycin treatment reveals distinct mechanisms of dysfunction in a maternal inflammation mouse model,” was authored by JE Le Belle, M. C. Condro, C. Cepeda, KD Oikonomou, K. Tessema, L. Dudley, J. Schoenfield, R. Kawaguchi, D. Geschwind, AJ Silva, Z. Zhang, K. Shokat, NG Harris, and HI Kornblum.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/single-dose-of-rapamycin-rapidly-reduces-autism-like-traits-in-adult-mice/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismResearch #Rapamycin #mTOR #MaternalInflammation #Neuroscience #BrainPlasticity #AutismTherapies #Neurodevelopment #SensoryProcessing #NeuralConnectivity

DATE: August 13, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Single dose of rapamycin rapidly reduces autism-like traits in adult mice

URL: https://www.psypost.org/single-dose-of-rapamycin-rapidly-reduces-autism-like-traits-in-adult-mice/

A new study published in the journal Nature Communications suggests that exposing mice to mild inflammation during pregnancy triggers brain and behavioral changes in their offspring that resemble autism spectrum disorder. The research provides evidence that a single dose of the immunosuppressive drug rapamycin can rapidly but temporarily reverse these symptoms in adult mice by altering brain function rather than physical structure.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex condition associated with diverse changes in brain development, behavior, and sensory processing. One known risk factor is maternal immune activation, which occurs when a pregnant mother experiences an infection or inflammation. This inflammatory response can alter the development of the fetal brain. In both human and animal studies, such early immune events are linked to later neurodevelopmental differences, including increased brain volume in early life, altered social behaviors, and heightened sensitivity to sensory input.

At the cellular level, many of these changes are associated with the overactivation of the mTOR pathway. The mTOR pathway is a biological signaling network that regulates cell growth, division, and survival. When this system is hyperactive, it tends to lead to abnormal synapse formation, an imbalance between excitatory and inhibitory brain signals, and an increased susceptibility to seizures.

“We have a longstanding interest in the mTOR system in brain development and autism spectrum disorder,” said study authors Harley Kornblum, director of the UCLA Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center and a professor of psychiatry, pediatrics, and pharmacology; Neil Harris, a professor of neurosurgery; and Janel Le Belle, an associate professor of neurosurgery. “Our earlier study also led by Dr. Le Belle showed that mild maternal inflammation in a strain of mouse activated the mTOR system and resulted in many behaviors reminiscent of autism and that are also found in genetic mouse models in which we know that the affected genes cause autism in people.”

Rapamycin is an established drug that inhibits the mTOR pathway. It is commonly used in medicine to prevent organ transplant rejection. In previous animal research, treating young mice with rapamycin over several weeks prevented the physical brain abnormalities associated with certain genetic mutations linked to autism.

“We were interested in trying treatment with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, which is used in children with disorders that activate the mTOR pathway,” the researchers added. However, chronic use of rapamycin can suppress the immune system and inhibit healthy growth. The authors designed this study to observe what happens when adult mice receive a short-acting, single dose of the drug, focusing on immediate functional changes in the brain rather than long-term structural remodeling.

The authors triggered a mild maternal inflammatory response in pregnant mice by injecting them with lipopolysaccharide, a bacterial compound that induces an immune reaction. This low dose was designed to provoke a response without making the pregnant mice noticeably ill. The offspring were then raised to early adulthood or older adulthood, creating experimental groups of male and female mice to compare against a control group that received a harmless saline solution.

The researchers first evaluated the physical and molecular characteristics of the offspring exposed to maternal inflammation. They tracked brain weights from birth to 200 days old for 16 mice per group. The exposed mice experienced mild brain overgrowth early in life compared to the control group, but by day 200, this growth had slowed, resulting in brain weights slightly below the control average.

The exposed mice also maintained chronically elevated levels of immune proteins, known as cytokines, in their blood. Their brain tissue showed persistent overactivation of the mTOR pathway. To see if immune cells were driving the ongoing issues, the researchers depleted microglia, a type of brain immune cell, in some mice. This reduction improved behaviors in young adult mice but failed to help older adult mice, suggesting that other functional mechanisms maintain the behavioral traits later in life.

To test behavior, the scientists observed groups of 26 mice in open field tests. The exposed mice spent roughly twice as much time engaging in repetitive behaviors, such as grooming and circling, compared to the control mice. When the researchers administered a single injection of rapamycin at a dose of 5 milligrams per kilogram, the repetitive behaviors in the exposed mice dropped to match the levels seen in the control mice within two hours.

“We were very surprised by the rapidity of the effects of rapamycin,” the researchers told PsyPost. “We expected that if the mTOR system was still activated in the adult, it would be influencing the structure of how brain cells connect with each other, which would mean that anticipated effects would take longer than just a few hours.”

This behavioral rescue was temporary, as the repetitive behaviors returned to their previous elevated levels 72 hours later. The authors also tested daily injections over five weeks in groups of 10 mice. They found that the mice developed a tolerance to the drug, leading to a gradual loss of its behavioral benefits.

The study also measured sensory over-responsivity, a common trait where individuals are highly sensitive to touch or sound. Using groups of eight mice, the researchers tested tactile avoidance by placing the animals in a box with both smooth and rough floor surfaces. The exposed mice actively avoided the rough-textured floor, spending less time there than the control mice. Following a single dose of rapamycin, the exposed mice increased their time spent on the rough floor, indicating a normalization of their sensory tolerance.

Sensory sensitivities can disrupt daily life and exacerbate other challenges. “Our results point to a significant role of the sensory system in our mouse model and its correction with rapamycin,” the authors noted. “Sensory symptoms are known to be highly disabling in autism and now there is some evidence that abnormalities in sensory responsiveness may contribute to many of the behaviors that we don’t normally view as being mediated by the sensory system.”

Because sensory and behavioral changes often relate to how brain cells fire, the researchers examined the electrical activity of individual brain cells. They analyzed brain slices from 24 mice per group, focusing on pyramidal neurons in the sensory cortex. The neurons from the exposed mice exhibited a higher frequency and amplitude of spontaneous electrical discharges compared to the control neurons, indicating hyper-excitability. Treating the mice or the brain slices with rapamycin quickly reduced this hyperactivity.

To test this hyper-excitability in living animals, the researchers administered a seizure-inducing chemical to groups of eight mice. All eight exposed mice experienced visible seizures at a high dose, compared to only two out of eight control mice. Rapamycin administration lowered the severity of the seizure scores in the exposed group.

To observe brain-wide communication, the authors used functional magnetic resonance imaging to scan 16 mice per group. This technique measures functional connectivity, which tracks how different brain regions synchronize their activity. The exposed mice displayed higher levels of connectivity than the control mice, particularly between sensory processing areas and subcortical regions like the thalamus. Following the two-hour rapamycin treatment, this hyper-connectivity decreased in the sensory cortex and reorganized across the brain, restoring the functional network to a state that closely resembled the control mice.

This neural reorganization provides evidence that specific circuits remain adaptable in adult mice. The average person should take away the idea “[t]hat some behaviors associated with autism can improve, even after the brain has matured,” the authors said. “Furthermore, we have identified the pathways (connections) in the brain that are influenced in this mouse model and that are altered with rapamycin.”

Finally, the researchers analyzed gene expression in the brain cells. They found that the exposed mice had altered activity in genes related to ion channels, which control the flow of electrical charges in and out of cells. After the acute rapamycin treatment, the expression of genes associated with brain cell excitability and autism risk quickly shifted back toward typical levels. This indicates that the drug works by rapidly adjusting the molecular balance of excitation and inhibition.

The findings from this study rely on a specific animal model of maternal inflammation, and physiological responses seen in mice do not directly translate to human neurodevelopment. Because rapamycin has strong immunosuppressive properties, it is not a practical daily treatment for behavioral or sensory symptoms in humans.

“We don’t believe that rapamycin or its close relatives that are currently used clinically will be the ‘cure’ for autism,” the authors cautioned. “First, our effects were temporary and wore off after several treatments. Second, as a class of medications, they can have significant side effects, especially immunosuppression.” They emphasized that they “would not recommend treatment with these medications outside of the conditions for which they are approved.”

Instead of acting as a direct treatment, the drug helps reveal underlying mechanisms for scientists to target. “We look at our findings as a fulcrum to further study autism-associated behaviors and symptoms and how they can be treated,” the authors explained.

Moving forward, the research team plans to explore other interventions. “In one set of studies we are trying to discover the downstream molecular pathways by which rapamycin acts so that we can potentially develop new therapies,” they said. “In the other approach, we are investigating the neural pathways that are misregulated in our model to see if these pathways can be functionally manipulated by therapeutic means, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation.”

The study, “Acute rapamycin treatment reveals distinct mechanisms of dysfunction in a maternal inflammation mouse model,” was authored by JE Le Belle, M. C. Condro, C. Cepeda, KD Oikonomou, K. Tessema, L. Dudley, J. Schoenfield, R. Kawaguchi, D. Geschwind, AJ Silva, Z. Zhang, K. Shokat, NG Harris, and HI Kornblum.

URL: https://www.psypost.org/single-dose-of-rapamycin-rapidly-reduces-autism-like-traits-in-adult-mice/

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AutismResearch #Rapamycin #mTOR #MaternalInflammation #Neuroscience #BrainPlasticity #AutismTherapies #Neurodevelopment #SensoryProcessing #NeuralConnectivity

I am sitting in the sun, letting the warmth settle into me while a slight breeze moves across my skin, carrying the faint clean scent of mint from the plant to my right. The soft, steady hum of traffic drifts past in the background. Today I needed this more than I can easily explain.

This morning my doctor cancelled her appointment, then changed her mind and said she could make it after all. I had already mentally released the day and reorganised around Thursday, so when the reversal came I found myself more unsettled than the situation probably warranted. Unexpected changes like that disrupt something deeper than just the schedule. My nervous system had already mapped the day a certain way, and a sudden shift, even a minor one, requires a kind of internal recalibration that is genuinely exhausting. I chose Thursday anyway, on my own terms, which helped. The unsettled feeling still took time to pass, which is why I am out here now.

It has me thinking about something I have been sitting with lately. Reality does not care about our plans, our carefully built illusions, or the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe. There is a particular kind of shock that comes when life closes the gap between what we expected and what actually is, and it does so entirely on its own timeline, not ours.

I am not convinced the answer is stripping away every layer of protection and standing completely exposed. I think the real work is building enough internal ground to tolerate what is real without being destroyed by it. That process is slower and more painful than avoidance, but there is clarity on the other side that no illusion ever provided. At least, that has been true in my own experience.

#ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #DisabilityPride #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth #Neurodivergent #SensoryProcessing #Selfcare #MindfulLiving #RealTalk #SlowLiving #InnerWork #Healing #Authenticity #NDCommunity #BlindLife

I am sitting in the sun, letting the warmth settle into me while a slight breeze moves across my skin, carrying the faint clean scent of mint from the plant to my right. The soft, steady hum of traffic drifts past in the background. Today I needed this more than I can easily explain.

This morning my doctor cancelled her appointment, then changed her mind and said she could make it after all. I had already mentally released the day and reorganised around Thursday, so when the reversal came I found myself more unsettled than the situation probably warranted. Unexpected changes like that disrupt something deeper than just the schedule. My nervous system had already mapped the day a certain way, and a sudden shift, even a minor one, requires a kind of internal recalibration that is genuinely exhausting. I chose Thursday anyway, on my own terms, which helped. The unsettled feeling still took time to pass, which is why I am out here now.

It has me thinking about something I have been sitting with lately. Reality does not care about our plans, our carefully built illusions, or the stories we tell ourselves to feel safe. There is a particular kind of shock that comes when life closes the gap between what we expected and what actually is, and it does so entirely on its own timeline, not ours.

I am not convinced the answer is stripping away every layer of protection and standing completely exposed. I think the real work is building enough internal ground to tolerate what is real without being destroyed by it. That process is slower and more painful than avoidance, but there is clarity on the other side that no illusion ever provided. At least, that has been true in my own experience.

#ActuallyAutistic #AuDHD #DisabilityPride #ChronicIllness #MentalHealth #Neurodivergent #SensoryProcessing #Selfcare #MindfulLiving #RealTalk #SlowLiving #InnerWork #Healing #Authenticity #NDCommunity #BlindLife

Small daily habits move the needle for autistic brains: exercise, predictable routines, outdoor time, sensory kits, and scheduled decompression after masking. Not self-discipline. Nervous system science.

#Autism #Neurodivergent #SensoryProcessing

Small daily habits move the needle for autistic brains: exercise, predictable routines, outdoor time, sensory kits, and scheduled decompression after masking. Not self-discipline. Nervous system science.

#Autism #Neurodivergent #SensoryProcessing

AuDHD isn’t just “autism plus ADHD.” It is a distinct profile.

In these individuals, sensory overload and executive dysfunction are fused. Research shows this link is tighter than in either condition alone.

#AuDHD #Neurodiversity #SensoryProcessing

Many children experience the world more intensely than others 🌈!
Sounds feel louder, textures feel unbearable, or movement feels too much or not enough.
These sensory processing differences aren’t misbehaviour; they’re part of how the nervous system works.

👉 Click here to read more: https://zurl.co/tKk8f

#BabyYumYum #BYY #ChildDevelopment #ParentingTips #SensoryProcessing #Neurodiversity #EverydayFamilyLife

"It’s as simple as asking someone what their needs are and then providing an accommodation."

Dr Hayley Passmore shares a striking example of how neurodiversity-informed practice works in the real world. By identifying a sensory aversion to a dish sponge, prison staff were able to prevent behavioural incidents with a simple £2 dishcloth.

When we support sensory and developmental needs, we create better outcomes for the whole community.

Watch, listen, or read the full episode: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/hayley-passmore

#Neurodiversity #JusticeReform #PublicHealth #SensoryProcessing #Empathy

"It’s as simple as asking someone what their needs are and then providing an accommodation."

Dr Hayley Passmore shares a striking example of how neurodiversity-informed practice works in the real world. By identifying a sensory aversion to a dish sponge, prison staff were able to prevent behavioural incidents with a simple £2 dishcloth.

When we support sensory and developmental needs, we create better outcomes for the whole community.

Watch, listen, or read the full episode: https://steampoweredshow.com/shows/hayley-passmore

#Neurodiversity #JusticeReform #PublicHealth #SensoryProcessing #Empathy

Too Much! by Jolene Gutiérrez is a reassuring rhyming picture book about sensory overload and what you can do when everything is too much. "this book provides much-needed representation and understanding."
#christmas2025 #childrensbooks #neurodivergent #sensoryprocessing
https://www.amazon.com/Too-Much-Overwhelming-Jolene-Guti%C3%A9rrez/dp/1419764268/

Too Much! by Jolene Gutiérrez is a reassuring rhyming picture book about sensory overload and what you can do when everything is too much. "this book provides much-needed representation and understanding."
#christmas2025 #childrensbooks #neurodivergent #sensoryprocessing
https://www.amazon.com/Too-Much-Overwhelming-Jolene-Guti%C3%A9rrez/dp/1419764268/

Living with autism or ADHD can feel like navigating a maze—sometimes frustrating, often overwhelming, but also uniquely inspiring. 💭 I've found that our minds are incredible, bursting with creativity and insights.

#AutismAwareness #ADHDlifehacks #Neurodiversity #SensoryProcessing #MentalHealthMatters #AutisticBrain #LifeWithADHD #SupportAutism #LivingWithADHD

Autism, ADHD, OCD, dyslexia—these are not limitations but unique aspects of your identity. Celebrate your neurodiversity. As autistic adults, our experiences are unique and powerful. You're not alone in this journey — and I've built tools to help you thrive, gain clarity, and feel confident in your own skin.Comment 'BRAIN' to get your free starter kit! 🚀#ADHDProductivity, #AutismLifeHacks, #NeurodivergentGrowth, #AutismAwareness, #ADHDAwareness, #SensoryProcessing, #AutisticAdults,

Don't apologize for being autistic. It's not something you need to be sorry for; it should be celebrated as part of who you are. As autistic adults, our experiences are unique and powerful. You're not alone in this journey — and I've built tools to help you thrive, gain clarity, and feel confident in your own skin.Comment 'COPING' to unlock the program now! 🚀#AutismEmpowerment, #ADHDProductivity, #BulletproofBrain, #AutismAwareness, #SensoryProcessing, #CopingWithAutism, #AutisticAdults,

In the world of autism, zoning out isn't zoning out at all—it's zoning into the complexities of existence.As autistic adults, our experiences are unique and powerful. You're not alone in this journey — and I've built tools to help you thrive, gain clarity, and feel confident in your own skin.Comment 'BRAIN' to get your free starter kit! 🚀#ADHDProductivity, #NeurodivergentGrowth, #AutismLifeHacks, #SensoryProcessing, #AutismAwareness, #EmotionalRegulation, #AspieWorld

Zoning out isn't detachment, it's a deep immersion into the vibrations of reality. As autistic adults, our experiences are unique and powerful. You're not alone in this journey — and I've built tools to help you thrive, gain clarity, and feel confident in your own skin.Comment 'BRAIN' to get your free starter kit! 🚀#AutismEmpowerment, #AutismLifeHacks, #ConfidenceForAutistics, #ADHDAwareness, #SensoryProcessing, #AutismAwareness, #AutisticAdults, #AutismSupport, #AutisticAndProud

I just published a new article on Medium: “Craving Fire: Autism, ADHD, and My Unusual Appetite for Taste”.
It’s about how I live the intersection of AuDHD, sensory processing, and food — why I crave bold flavors, avoid water, and constantly seek the new.

#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #SensoryProcessing #Food

https://medium.com/@christian.gajewski/craving-fire-autism-adhd-and-my-unusual-appetite-for-taste-39be7b85d61f

I just published a new article on Medium: “Craving Fire: Autism, ADHD, and My Unusual Appetite for Taste”.
It’s about how I live the intersection of AuDHD, sensory processing, and food — why I crave bold flavors, avoid water, and constantly seek the new.

#Neurodiversity #Autism #ADHD #SensoryProcessing #Food

https://medium.com/@christian.gajewski/craving-fire-autism-adhd-and-my-unusual-appetite-for-taste-39be7b85d61f

Discover how physical movement reshapes the brain's processing of sights and sounds, unveiling new dimensions of sensory perception. #Neuroscience #SensoryProcessing #BrainResearch

https://geekoo.news/how-movement-influences-sensory-processing-in-the-brain/

Whew! cold-induced brain short-circuits are *NOT* fun! Finally getting back to normal after trying to switch out trash bins--and that was around 2 hours ago! @actuallyautistic

***Hashtags Here:***
#ActuallyAutistic #SensoryProcessing #SPD #Neurodivergent #Neurodivergence

Whew! cold-induced brain short-circuits are *NOT* fun! Finally getting back to normal after trying to switch out trash bins--and that was around 2 hours ago! @actuallyautistic

***Hashtags Here:***
#ActuallyAutistic #SensoryProcessing #SPD #Neurodivergent #Neurodivergence

Restless, reactive, or overly sensitive? Your child may have sensory processing difficulties https://www.psypost.org/restless-reactive-or-overly-sensitive-your-child-may-have-sensory-processing-difficulties/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #SensoryProcessing #ChildDevelopment #OccupationalTherapy #ParentingTips #MentalHealth

Bless you autocorrect! Noise _counselling_ headphones it is, from now on :ms_robot_headpats:

#SensoryProcessing #Neurodiversity #Headphones #NoiseCounsellingHeadphones

Bless you autocorrect! Noise _counselling_ headphones it is, from now on :ms_robot_headpats:

#SensoryProcessing #Neurodiversity #Headphones #NoiseCounsellingHeadphones

Anyone used the Loops Switch who can compare it to their normal offerings? What about first versus second gen in the main ones? Thank you in advance 🧡
#SensoryIssues #SensoryProcessing #SensoryProcessingDisorder #SensoryOverload #AskFedi #AskADHD

.@v_weilnhammer @PhilippSterzer &co show that humans & mice fluctuate between external & internal modes of #SensoryProcessing, and that this generates unambiguous #ErrorSignals that enable optimal inference in volatile environments #PLOSBiology https://plos.io/46W641Q

.@v_weilnhammer @PhilippSterzer &co show that humans & mice fluctuate between external & internal modes of #SensoryProcessing, and that this generates unambiguous #ErrorSignals that enable optimal inference in volatile environments #PLOSBiology https://plos.io/46W641Q

@smartin

In order of all writing easiest to hardest of these 3 it's
1. Arial
2. Courier

3. Times New Roman

Where my preference will flip as courier holds the top spot if I'm reading a story/emotional vs a scientific/technical piece which is where Arial is tops.

Times New Roman is probably the most common & gives me the most headaches &/or confusion in getting through, especially for longer reads.

#Reader #SensoryProcessing

Jolene Gutiérrez' new children's book, Too Much, is a reassuring rhyming picture book about sensory overload and what you can do when everything is too much. Check out her book tour and get your own signed copy.
#childrensbooks #sensoryprocessing #books #promo
https://www.amazon.com/Too-Much-Overwhelming-Jolene-Guti%C3%A9rrez/dp/1419764268/

Was wondering why so many supermarkets have started playing music in the background, as it triggers my #ADHD #SensoryProcessing

This product roadmap update from #Tesco #dunnHumby explains it all, along with a preview of forthcoming horrors...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS2UeMivDbQ&t=993s

Was wondering why so many supermarkets have started playing music in the background, as it triggers my #ADHD #SensoryProcessing

This product roadmap update from #Tesco #dunnHumby explains it all, along with a preview of forthcoming horrors...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mS2UeMivDbQ&t=993s

I hate that my brain, when I'm having a feeling or an internal reaction while listening to another person, shuts down all the other channels--listening, seeing--to receive that impression or feel that feeling.

All the other data drops out. As if it never got recorded.

I might catch a key word here or there, or remember a fleeting instant of an impactful facial expression, but it's all broken apart spotty bits like that from there on forward. I often have to reconstruct how those disjointed pieces flow in a coherent statement or narrative later, based on contextual clues and the general gist of the conversation.

I miss so much precious, important-to-me information in my interactions with people I care about because of this phenomenon.

🤬😤

(TL;DR I hate that I can't have a feeling and continue listening to you at the same time.)

#AuDHD #autistic #autism #ActuallyAutistic #SensoryProcessing #SensoryProcessingDisorder #SingleChannelProcessing

Afternoon folks! The work has started in earnest today. Been lots of drilling and banging all morning since about 8:30 AM, but the bonus is the crew have amazing taste in music, and a pretty good sound system! When it gets noisy I retreat under my big noise cancelling headphones with my book. Feeling pretty tired today and managed to sleep through a chunk of the work being done, but I heard the carer come in and decided it was time to move. Got a meeting later, but no way I’m going even on Zoom as I’ll have to talk evening carer through the temporary kitchen setup we have, and I just won’t have any spoons after their done with the kitchen for the day. #Spoonie #SensoryProcessing #ChronicIllness #SilverLinings #HomeRenovation

Children need to feel safe 💗

"Instead of focusing on eliminating [challenging] behaviors we need to provide children with signals of safety."

From Mona Delahooke's 'Beyond Behaviors'

#psychology
#behavior
#autism
#sensoryprocessing
#neuroception

Children need to feel safe 💗

"Instead of focusing on eliminating [challenging] behaviors we need to provide children with signals of safety."

From Mona Delahooke's 'Beyond Behaviors'

#psychology
#behavior
#autism
#sensoryprocessing
#neuroception

Understanding #Autism helps me understand my #ActuallyAutistic self and how I interact with the world.

This review discusses how #SensoryFiltering affect #SensoryProcessing and eventually the whole #Autistic person.

This is technical, and written in a language that's not ideal [e.g. "individuals with ASD"]... but informative.
🔗 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2016.00268/full

I spontaneously start whistling when there is a lot of noise around me, as a way to reclaim my own sound space and keep control over what i hear, i guess. It's mostly misinterpreted as joy, and it's very hard for me to complain about the noise because of it…
#actuallyautistic @actuallyautistic #sensoryprocessing

Hello world ! I am a Developmental Cognitive Neuroscientist #biology #psychology #neuroscience & Associate Professor at the #university of #caen #france

I Research #neonate and #infant #brain #development and #neurodevelopmentaldisorders using #neuroimaging #eeg #fnirs #mri with an emphasis on #somatosensation and #sensoryprocessing

I work with my awesome #decoderesearch team at the #comete1075 lab, with the help of strong coffee, loud music, and cats.

My conversational abilities include #science #babies horse riding and vintage sci-fi
#introduction #introductions #neurodevelopment #cognitivedevelopment