Today I Learned

151 readers

3 users here now

Post direct links to interesting facts that you just learned about today

founded 1 year ago

TIL why those with autism avoid eye contact; an overactive subcortical system, combined with an imbalance in the excitatory and inhibitory systems, can make eye contact feel like 'burning' (www.sciencedaily.com)

submitted 1 year ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

8 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Direct gaze - that is, eye contact with another person - causes the subcortical system to overload, and the parts of the brain that deal with arousal and calming are failing to strike a balance. The end result is that direct eye contact triggers a physiological response which makes it physically uncomfortable to maintain eye contact.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

For me (am ASD) it always feels a bit overstimulating. A bit like staring at the sun. Or even more, like trying to do complex math in your head while also maintaining a conversation with someone. I am bound to lose my train of thought while keeping eye contact. I have to break it away to actually use my brain