Intrinsic Timescales and Thought-process in neurodivergence

Brain’s Learning Regions.

Disrupted Signals are the main cause of erratic behavior.

Traveling Thoughts account for Signals.
The brain can be described as an intrinsic highway.Every cerebral reaction travels through Neural Pathways.
Latest research is focused around Pathways in the quest to identify Signaling failures’ causes in the Neurodivergent Brain.

New findings point to the Substances coating pathways as for functional factors in Transportation.
ADHD is a major Transportation disorder: despite a normal presence of pathways from the Cerebellum to the Cerebrum, Signals fail to travel.
When Signals don’t travel, we act on Impulse from the Prefrontal Cortex.
For this reason, Signals are executed fast in ADHD, whilst slow and analytically accurate in the neurotypical.

The Limbic System is the Brain general Learning Center, although each Learning-behavior applies to a specific Region named Intrinsic Timescale.
We know the basic protein-structure of Transportation Pathways however, scientists have recently found how White Matter facilitates Signaling.
We should deduce that ADHD is a White Matter Deficiency, accordingly.
The cure would be making Slow and Fast Signals interact, based on the established agonist/antagonist pharmacological model.
For the record, Fast Signals account for Sensory Overload, Slow Signals for Integrating Coherent Thoughts. Sensory Overload is related to the ND brain, Integrating Coherent Thoughts to the NT brain.
White Matter would act as Intrinsic Timescales’Connector, if not obstructed by Sensory Overload Shutdown in ND.

Should Spectrum Disorders renamed Signal Processing Disorders?

Studies are still underway.
What we can confirm thus far is the Behavioral and Cognitive Performances as results of Intrinsic Timescales Connectivity through White Matter.

WMD-White Matter Disease-shows as white lesions on the Cortex. It is responsible for motor and mental health. The main trigger is Cardiovascular disease with associated reduced blood-flow to the brain. There is no cure to date, other than physical therapy and prevention of Hypertension, High-Cholesterol, Alcohol consumption and Smoking.

Ongoing research will give us more insight into Thought-processing Disorders and Treatments.



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Brain-hardwiring in ADHD

The Magnification of Stress in ADHD.

We know that ADHDers have a high addictive personality.
This is because they always need a thrill to kickstart.

Danger has a different set in ADHD, it is perceived as Reward.
ADHDers don’t know real Danger: Drugs, Speeding Up on the road, Cliffhanging… are just Motivators to keep going.
This is the rationale behind Stimulant Medications, to provide “Safe Stimuli” by promoting Tranquility. 
The popular misconception is that Stimulation makes people “High”. ADHDers are naturally high, therefore replacing Dangerous Stimuli with Safe Stimuli is the target of Stimulants.

 What are Safe Stimuli in ADHD?

Safe Stimulation is about providing the right amount of Dopamine to depleted ADHD brain cells to get out of bed in the morning, to start with, avoiding car racing in order to arrive on time at work fully awake, what is referred to as ‘Hurry Sickness and Toxic Productivity’ in psychiatry, a short-lived pattern ultimately leading to Burnout and impaired Executive Function, hence the associated toxicity.
Toxicity is responsible for Brain-hardwiring, if not addressed in early adulthood, normally before 25, when personality is permanently evolved.

Brain-hardwiring is the Buildup of unhealthy habits dictated by Negative Emotions.

Imagine what outrageous coping strategies the untreated ADHD brain can develop in 20 years.
This was the case in the Old Millennium. Middle-aged ADHDers are hardwired to dangerous environments and dependent on lifelong medication.
Nowadays children have promising outcomes of a med-free Senior Life.
ADHD is mainly structured on Work-performance, the primary source of Reward.

The bad news is that Brain-hardwiring enhances inconsiderate behavior.
Stimulants have a threshold too.
The best results for ADHD are achieved from Childhood.
Don’t stand the chance.


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Neural Pathways in Neurodivergence

Listening forms new Pathways in the brain.

Being a good listener is hundred times wiser than being a good speaker.
Speaking without a certain level of self-worth takes plenty of practice, what defines a professional therapist/coach.
Minimizing words to the very essential, fosters Listening.
Neurodivergent individuals want first and foremost to be heard, rather than being told. We’re told a great deal on a regular basis.

Latest findings in brain-scanning show clear evidence of the formation of new Neural Networks as result of Listening.
We know that Thoughts originate in the Cerebellum to travel to the Cerebrum through Neural Pathways in the Neurotypical Brain.
We know too that Pathways born out of Protein Synthesis, see article ‘Amino-Acids in Neurogenesis’

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Amino Acids in Neurogenesis

We deduce that Listening boosts Proteins in the Neurodivergent Brain, a popular expression.
The medical theory is that Listening stimulates Thought-process, in so doing, forming new Transportation Pathways.

Neuroplasticity

The all process of forming new Neural Transportation Pathways involves several stages regrouped into Neuroplasticity.

I’ll summarize the most crucial steps, since the whole process requires an hourly readout, not suitable for the average 5 mins blog-reader.

Thought-processing extends Neuron’s Axons-filaments, forming intracellular Synapses.
Synaptic activity either strengthens or forms new Signaling Pathways with a Protein structure.
The formation takes place inside the Neurons through a process called ‘Axonal Transport’, providing the proteomic materials for Transportation Pathways through a structure of microtubules. These chemicals are distributed to the sites where new Synapses are developing.
To simplify all, we can say in a non-academic fashion that Neural Transportation Pathways are sequences of Synapses originating from extended Axons.

Why Listening enables Thought-processing.

When we are listened to, we enhance Synaptic activity, a byproduct of Self-confidence, Resilience, Thought-processing, in so creating new Pathways.
Conversely, when we are preached, Axons and Dendrites shrivel-up as result of Cortisol exposure, the Stress-hormone.
Axons and Dendrites are filaments of neurons, responsible for Neural Connections. They are easily mutating, even more so in the Neurodivergent Brain.
The Neurodivergent endure constant criticism. This wreaks havoc on Axons and Dendrites, disrupting Neural Connections. 
Listening has a non-judgemental Repair Function regenerating neural networks. The neurodivergent are in control within their Comfort-Zone. Cortisol levels drop, allowing Axons and Dendrites to grow anew alongside synapses.

Listening Therapy accounts for Psychosomatics, the Med-free approach to Mental Disorders.
While professional treatment is always recommended, everyone can become a good listener by putting aside Pride and Prejudice.

Giving is more rewarding than Receiving.
The Neurotypical have a lot to learn from the Neurodivergent.
Hear us out.

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Numbing pain

Numbness is as comfortable as addictive.

Comfortably Numb / Pink Floyd

As I was discussing music as therapy and David Bowie as my favourite artist, I couldn’t dismiss the track’ subject, co-sung with David Gilmoure.
The title ‘Comfortably Numb’ says it all, fully straightforward with little left to imagination.
Quite a rarity for songs, normally written purposefully for free interpretation.
It’s black and white only here, Comfort and Numbness: when we are numb, we are comfortable.
A psychosomatic state, not to be confused with physical paralysis.
In medicine, Numbness is the loss of sensation associated with pain. Doctors use anesthesia to make us numb and comfortable.
When we are numb, we don’t feel any pain.

Music therapy is recognized by the psychiatric profession.

This song is healing.
Numbness is also emotional.
The sad part is David Bowie’s passing.
Sometimes, I question myself if it s right to ‘communicate’ with the dead.
Certainly not, from a religious perspective.
Nonetheless, the track lifts me up, despite stealing me tears every time.


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Spiritual Awakening

I resort to poetry and music when pain is too intense to describe.

‘My Death’, David Bowie. Personified 

♬

My death waits like a Bible truth,
at the funeral of my youth.
So confident, I go His way.

Let’s not think about,
the passing time!

Angel or Devil, 
I don’t care,
for behind that door, 
there is…You!

♬

Pain is never permanent. Our time will come when appropriate. Never stop hoping.

My homeland, my desire.

Our time will come.

Man does not need to see everything.

If only we could stop time.

One door closes, another opens.

It is all in God s hands.

Why worry?

Living physically in one place and spiritually in another is my Cross.

He stands on that Cross.

There’s nothing I shall want.

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Reaching-out

I further explore the benefits of music and faith in this article, through a real-life experience.

Reach-out for Help.

Today I received this call for Help.
Could it be Divine Intervention?
I felt God’s presence guiding me through the entire conversation.
It was a very rewarding day!
I had the opportunity to save a suicidal friend who reached out to me.

I’m not an hotline operator nor a psychologist and under no circumstances I intend to give any kind of professional advice.
Suicide is a serious condition requiring professional intervention.
Only when the suicidal person reaches out to us, it means they put all trust in our listening skills, therefore we must try our best.

Nowadays, people think stilted speech is synonym of high IQ…
Quite the contrary, simple speech in addressing complex subjects is.

Trust, Identification, Music.

I first LISTENED, then IDENTIFIED with him.
Once I gained his TRUST, I sent him music videos of my favourite artist David Bowie which worked magics.
He bursted in tears and thanked me profusely after the tracks.
The aftermath is confidential.

Music therapy and Self-regulation in ADHD.

It is scientifically proven the therapeutic potential of music in activating dormant or misplaced brain circuits.
Also, it has been recently demonstrated the dopaminergic nature of music, dopamine in notes, literally: Music plays the role of Self-regulation between Emotional, Cognitive, Behavioral functions, the 3 properties of Dopamine. 
For this purpose, Music earned itself the medical definition of Catalyst.
As studies continue, we may be up to a blowing breakthrough, anytime soon.

I can’t live without music. 

I’ll keep a close eye on latest research and won’t delay to report new findings.




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Timeless dreaming

Music is having a major breakthrough in Emotional Regulation.

What does the lyric ♫ Your guilt for dreaming ♫ mean to you?

I shall point out that it s from a famous David Bowie’ song entitled Time.
As most of you know, Bowie is my inspiration, role-model and Godsend.
He wrote a song for each state of mind of mine.
“Your guilt for dreaming” means a whole lot to me.
Bowie believed that dreaming is not delusional.
Every achievement starts with a dream.
I often feel guilty of dreaming because I couldn’t realize my dreams, either joining the Military or studying Psychiatry.
I take pride in my job, nevertheless.
The track reminds that dreams have no Time.

Sorrow vs Guilt.

Autistics tend to feel guilty, even if it’s not their fault.
I often mix sorrow with guilt.
That exacerbates badly my ADHD with conflicting emotions.
Music is all I have left when nothing else matters.

Happy Heavenly Birthday, Starman!

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Lack of planning in Autism

Panic caused by changes to plans for individuals with autism

The panic experienced by people with autism when plans change stems from a deep need for predictability and routine. These provide a sense of safety and control in a world that can feel chaotic and overwhelming. When these established patterns are disrupted, it can trigger significant anxiety, distress, and sometimes panic attacks.

Why Changes Cause Distress

Need for Predictability:

 Autistic people often thrive on structure. Routines act as a script for the day, helping them know what to expect and when, which significantly lowers overall anxiety.

Executive Functioning Challenges: 

Autistic individuals may struggle with executive functions like planning, organization, and shifting focus (mental flexibility). A change in plans requires rapid replanning and adapting to a new sequence of events, which can be cognitively exhausting and difficult.

I need extra help this time of year.

So, another Advent.
As every year, the overwhelm has set in.
I wish I could talk to a Priest, not an option where I live.

Sending Christmas cards is a major issue to me: it takes about a month for a letter, during this busy season, to reach Europe from Asia.
Consequently, I planned with my wife to send Christmas cards last weekend, and she agreed first thing first on Saturday morning.

Saturday morning comes and she tells me of going to the grocery store with her mother one hour or so… bells ringing… turned out all day.
I had a real meltdown.
I couldn’t write any card.

She took on me that I don’t have any ‘flexibility’!

Her justification was her mother asked to visit some relatives.
She wouldn’t bother to call me or pick up the phone either, believing it would have made matters worse.

I had to spend all Sunday in bed to recover, while the cards were not sent.

I’ll leave the judgement to you: is that ‘autistic change in routine’ or ‘neurotypical lack of planning’?



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Fear of changes in Autism

Autistics don’t like changes in routine.

How do you deal with change in routine? How is your comfort zone? Does spirituality play a role in your life? Are you more biologically oriented?

How did you start the new week?

Monday is always a challenge to me, though better than weekend.
I’m quite settled Tuesday to Friday.
I only honour Sunday from a Christian perspective.
Faith is my main help and hope.

I also put trust in science: I see my psychiatrist monthly. 
Last week I had my session, he’s a psychoanalytic psychiatrist.
I’m always bit nervous for fear of changing meds.
I wonder which diagnosis is predominant with me, Autism or ADHD…
He says that latest research places ADHD on the Spectrum, I’ve come to believe it. I identify 80% ADHD to date.
The new AuDHD diagnosis would assert the validity of my identity.


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Emotional Roller-coasters in Autism

Roller-coasters is yet another trendy terminology for Life-challenges.

Again, I don’t see anything wrong with ‘challenges’, anyways… even languages are roller-coasters, these AI days.
I wonder if young and old of same nationality will soon need an interpreter, it could be of help in creating new jobs, before AI will lay-off thousands of workers.

“Ah shut up, I’ve been watching too much tv!” used to say David Bowie, the ‘Master of Transformation’ , as he was called back in the day.
Nowadays, he would be called the ‘Master of roller-coasters’!
Forgive the diversion, Sarcasm is necessary, sometimes.

Roller-coasters require lots of self-discipline.

This is very controversial: subjects on ASD are hard disciplined, yet they dread roller-coasters.
They excel financially, most World-billionaires are on the Spectrum.
Conversely, they fare poorly in relationships.
In my humble opinion, they function on compensation: academic and financial achievement makes up for roller-coasters and poor relationships.
They don’t look happy to me, nevertheless.

I’m neither a billionaire nor an academic, though I fare well socially.
I lean more towards ADHD and Bipolar.
Despite envying ASD achievements, I prioritize my social life.
Should I choose between wealth and good relationships, I would go for the latter no doubts.

I want to live with my wife at the sea. We speak the same language of the waves.


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