Neural Pruning, Synesthesia, and Autism

[@karenholmes6565]

We share many traits. Part of what cued me in on being autistic was research into my ambidexterity. Every 10 years or so it would occur to me to read up on the latest research on ambidexterity. The last time I looked up information about it I encountered information relating it to synesthesia. I had heard of synesthesia, but I did not realize how many types there are. I have that empathetic form of synesthesia. I had no idea how deeply empathetic I was until I lived alone for the first time in my early 40s. I had raised my son with my mom, my mom had chronic pain for years and years. My son had an anxiety disorder. So I lived with these people that had chronic emotional and physical problems. I was depressed, anxious, and I had a lot of pain. When I lived by myself all of these things went away. And I knew why I felt better, which made me sad because I didn't want to live a life of isolation. I chose to live with my mom and son after grad school even though I knew I'd feel their symptoms. I never even told them what living with them cost me. I agree with the idea of a hyper connected brain as a model of understanding autism. I am getting evaluated for autism in a couple of weeks It is rather frustrating to me because part of what defines autism is social dysfunction. That does not fit me for the most part. I don't have much trouble understanding how other people feel. I have the opposite problem. I think this is why so many autistic girls get missed. If we are not a problem for other people then our challenges go unrecognized. Autism seems to be defined by how other people feel about interacting with us instead of how we experience the world. And I find that deeply upsetting because it is unfair. Girls would value from understanding why they are different. Instead of developing EDs, getting misdiagnosed with personality disorders, giving them the wrong therapies for comorbidities.

[@kristenhovet]

Thank you so much for sharing! I absolutely agree that autism tends to be defined by how others experience us. If neurotypicals can't immediately detect something different about us, they assume we are (or should be) just like them. I've had people insist I'm not autistic because I can carry a conversation and somewhat/sometimes look them in the eye! Autism is almost entirely internal, how it feels to go through the world, our sensory differences and cognitive differences - all of which are invisible!

[@tis-liz]

Hello! I am so happy to have found your channel today! I relate to so much of what you have presented. Your definitions and descriptions of experience really resonate with me. The spatial synesthesia! I see time this way- if I think of a calendar year, it presents in my mind somewhat like a watch face- except it goes counterclockwise- 12:00 splits January on the left and December to the right… so spring is around 9:00, summer in at about the 6:00 mark, fall at the 3:00 and then back to winter at 12… I look forward to going over your other videos!

[@kristenhovet]

Welcome! Happy to have you here! ☺️

[@tis-liz]

Thanks! I was late-diagnosed a year ago at the age of 47… even with a masters in clinical mental health counseling, I had no idea I was autistic until coming across another KZbinr that listed the traits of high masking females… suddenly everything in my life made sense… I am still processing and trying to figure out how to contribute… my first thought was, “I am going back to school and getting my doctorate!” But then reality set in that the conclusion of my masters degree sent me into a major burnout/depressive episode… and that working as a therapist full time for two years sent me into my worst burnout yet… it seems the older I get the less tolerance I have for stimuli/ mirror synesthesia, etc… congratulations on your degree! I have no idea how you managed to do it while working full time and going through such big life changes! I am aware of the toll that must have taken and celebrate your ability to see it to fruition.

[@carolfournier7166]

So wonderful that you’re back. Keep up the great work….my eyes have been opened SO wide. Best…

[@alternativetentacles1760]

I’m autistic with ADHD. I recently figured out (through Reddit) that I have a tactile synesthesia. My OBGYN doctor and delivery nurse told me no one else had ever experienced the spinal block needle stabbing them in their V before. They told me to tell them about everything uncomfortable I experienced so I did. I was worried all throughout my second pregnancy with my twins that I would experience the same but thankfully there wasn’t a repeat V stab sensation. Most of my experiences aren’t that traumatic. Most of the negative experiences are with getting nausea after having too much sensory stimulation. I get sick if I ride too many roller coasters, go on helicopters, and cruising on boats. I love being a thrill seeker but it doesn’t love me back. Yesterday, I was watching a video on appendectomies and could feel a dull pain in the same location on my body. I have to be careful what I expose myself to and can only handle so much before getting sick. I think I have too much blood serotonin because I’m autistic. I’m still looking for answers that make sense.

[@silentlyjudgingyou]

The thing that gets to me in regards to "redundant" synapses is that for a lot of things redundancy is good it stops important things from having a single point failure break everything. It frustrates me that brains somehow overload themselves by having backup pathways this should be protective not problematic and yet I can't handle rough textures or lawnmower noise without feeling like I need to crawl out of my skin boil it then move house. I'd be curious if there's any research about autistic peoples recovery from brain injury as compared to NTs that's the sort of thing those redundancies should protect from but by sounds of things they haven't gotten that far.

[@alwynwatson6119]

The higher than usual adult neuroplasticity would also be useful there.

[@lavonnebenson7409]

I remember being told as a little girl " If you just wouldn't care so much" referring to practically everything going on around me and I was so confused because I could feel almost everything happening to other people and animals - I didn't know other people didn't feel the same way and I didn't learn about it actually until now that other people really do and there's a name for it. I am 63. It's exhausting m

[@averywillow4327]

I was once told by a boss to care less. It was very confusing because isn't it my job to care?

[@lavonnebenson7409]

The number 25 is silver ? 🙂

[@hevvybizzle5797]

Nope, definitely green I'm afraid 🤭😅😂

[@alisonrathbone468]

I can see that!! I see yellow!!

[@alisonrathbone468]

@@hevvybizzle5797I can relate to both of those tho!! I can see multiple colors in the number 25!

[@j-ivey]

I have never heard anyone else describe this spatial relationship of numbers. I experience it too. Different measurements are in different maps for me. For example, I see money on a vertical scale, but it bends at 1,000, and bends again at 100,000. However, age is a different scale that has a different map in my mind. Thanks for sharing!

[@Hemi_Bratt_Ca]

I am filled with deep appreciation for this video. Thank you svm! Tears & joy.

[@alwynwatson6119]

Hyperconnectivity would also explain the colors that don't exist. If the visual cortex is receiving information that does not come from the optic nerve then it might interpret it as a completely different type of color. The number of autistic people with synesthesia is probably being underestimated because if you figures of speech such as emotions of fireworks literally then you will assume that synesthesia is normal more than people who just assume it is poetic. I think part of what causes mirror touch is the double empathy problem. If you have to understand someone different from yourself then you are going to run mental simulations about what it's like to be them. If you do that automatically then the result would look a lot like mirror touch synesthesia.

[@lavonnebenson7409]

Do you sometimes absorb how other people are feeling before they seem to ?

[@kristenhovet]

Absolutely!!

[@juliak.9390]

This can happen…and it’s profoundly confusing if I start talking about them and their feelings towards xyz…when they have not even processed these feelings and are dumbfounded by my obvious findings 😂😮

[@thactotum]

part of why I don't admit my ASD, or gender identity, or being 'Ace', or 'spirituality type'... I do not want to do the work to constantly advocate, inform and represent. I get that those things are needed and the world becomes better for the varieties of people by being open about the interplay of society and people of different kinds. But I just want to come in and do my work and then go home, or take a class, or just get groceries, and it's sometimes overwhelming enough without the added workload.

[@averywillow4327]

Random thought spurred by your intro - I just discovered lotion bars and am obsessed bc they don't give the sticky lotion feel. The one on my desk right now is just beeswax, coconut oil, almond oil infused with calendula flowers and essential oils.

[@kristenhovet]

That sounds amazing! Unfortunately, coconut oil triggers my mast cell activation disorder. I mostly use Lubriderm unscented, but I hope other viewers see your comment and try out lotion bars! :)

[@tg_5565]

Thank you for this ❤ you explain things so well, so thoroughly and clearly. I didn’t know the difference between the individuals with autism secondary to other diagnoses and autistic individuals without these diagnoses. I hope that makes sense, lol. I am late-diagnosed autistic and it’s hard to say sometimes because it feels like I’m taking away from what is usually referred to as “severely autistic “. It’s such a weird, tangled, confusing thing, but with information like this, it helps so much. Thanks again ❤

[@ChrissyCrum-e5o]

In terms of a cure vs no cure, I have ASD L1 and your view on this topic fits me. But what about the parents of adult autists with L 3, who have dedicated all their life, finances, everything to full time care? I feel like they’re at odds with our end of the spectrum and … how can we include them without relinquishing our ASD positive viewpoint?

[@kristenhovet]

Thanks for your comment. My podcast is primarily about late-diagnosed level one autism. Most with an L2 or L3 diagnosis also have other diagnoses (e.g., intellectual disability) that impacts their cognition, behaviors, and everyday functional abilities. It's really difficult in these scenarios to tell what's due to autism and what's due to the other conditions.

[@michaelvandenheuvel317]

Over load of noise. Exactly how I experience it. Holding many more things as relative context longer then is necessary or applicable.

[@lavonnebenson7409]

I have the mirror touch synesthesia

[@ashleysmith792]

Whaaaat I thought everyone thought of numbers that way 🤯

[@Ahnalira]

💖

[@Petertwohig1948]

Thanks Kristen for all this and congrats on your Masters. My story is eerily similar. Synthesis. I can't imagine how PLAIN it must be to be neurotypical. And I get the number thing too, I just never thought about it. Makes me wonder about the nts. Poor bastards. And I meant it in the nicest possible way. Pete.

[@bammc7637]

U.S here, i say sin-aps

[@ocdbrain]

"neural pruning" sounds funny.

[@AbolishTheATF]

Wow you’re gorgeous

[@michaelvandenheuvel317]

If you are real , it would be a blessing from Heaven .

[@eddition4162]

I’m so glad I found this video. It made me research on synaptic pruning and I liked what I read. I’m still trying to understand - autism and synesthesia are called by a lack of synaptic pruning, is that right? I’ve been wondering why my thoughts are so jumbled up and noisy, now I think I know why. Now I wanna know if other symptoms like stimming, crazy and weird thoughts and lack of proper eye contact are also caused by a lack of synaptic pruning. I haven’t seen a therapist or psychologist about my symptoms yet, but thank goodness for the internet. 🥹 I feel so embarrassed about my symptoms right now…