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Brain Structure & Function

Introduction

Neurodivergent is a term not many have tried to learn about. Instead neurodivergent people are often referred to as disabled or impaired: terms that build stigma around neurodivergent people. In reality, people that are neurodivergent simply have brain differences that cause unique strengths and challenges compared to those whose brains aren’t affected in the same way. Cleveland Clinic defines the term neurodivergent as someone whose brain differences affect how their minds work. While neurodivergent is not a medical term, it should be used to describe people instead of labeling them “normal” or “abnormal” (Neurodivergent: What It Is, Symptoms & Types, n.d.). After all, no brain is “normal,” as everyone develops in a different and unique way. 


Differences in Brain Connectivity

Neurodivergent people experience some differences in brain connectivity, which alters the way their brains work. These differences vary based on the specific mental health condition. For example, in chronic brain disorders like schizophrenia, brain tissue atrophy causes enlargement of brain ventricles (Dutta, 2020). Such changes in the size of different brain parts can cause alterations in the brain's communication network, possibly leading to functional abnormalities. According to News Medical, schizophrenic patients can experience symptoms including impaired social behavior, delusion, lack of concentration, thinking difficulties, and reduced level of motivation (Dutta, 2020). These symptoms are expressed in the daily lives of neurodivergent people and affect the ways that they are able to function. 


Location of the Brain Structure and Function

In any given year, one in five Americans are found to meet the criteria of a mental illness (Goldman, 2015). In a study, Stanford identified a diminished volume of gray matter, which processes information, in three separate brain structures: the left and right anterior insula and the dorsal anterior cingulate. These three structures are known to be a part of a larger neural network that fires in synchrony and is associated with higher level executive functions. This gray matter loss found in people with mental disabilities decreases their ability to do tasks with high level executive functioning, such as concentrating in the face of distractions, multitasking or task-switching, planning and decision-making, and inhibiting counterproductive impulses (Goldman, 2015). This study demonstrated that many different mental disorders can be linked to the same difference in brain structure, such as the loss of gray matter. 


Neurotransmitters

Many individuals who are neurodivergent have neurotransmitters that fire differently. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that facilitate communication between nerve cells or neurons. Neurotransmitter imbalances can cause various mental health disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and schizophrenia (Electricwala, 2024). These imbalances or dysfunctions occur when the brain does not promote, receive, release, or reuptake of neurotransmitters. For people with depression, the neurotransmitters serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine can help alleviate the symptoms of depression. Additionally, people with anxiety disorders can experience higher activation of the amygdala, which is centrally involved in the brain’s response to threats. Multiple neurotransmitters, including norepinephrine, serotonin, glutamate, and GABA, appear to have a part in anxiety disorders (The Brain and Common Psychiatric Disorders, n.d.). For example, an increased activation of serotonin can promote or dampen the effects of anxiety, depending on the part of the brain where this boost of serotonin happens. For individuals who are schizophrenic, the neurotransmitters dopamine, glutamate, and GABA are associated with their symptoms. However, the relationship between these neurotransmitter imbalances and disorder is not straightforward. A neurotransmitter imbalance can cause a positive or negative impact and as such do not always negatively or possibly affect a person. Still, disorders linked to neurotransmitters can profoundly affect a person’s physical and mental health by changing their mood, cognition, behavior, and overall quality of life.


Cognitive Processing in Neurodivergent People

Neurodevelopmental disorders are prevalent in 5-7% of the population (Maw et al., n.d.) and can occur from early childhood to adulthood. Many are categorized by certain cognitive impairments, like sensory processing, facial recognition, visual imagery, attention, and coordination. However, a study done by Science Direct presents a more affirmative and positive perspective of neurodivergent individuals (Maw et al., n.d.). Neurodivergent individuals  experience many cognitive strengths, including enhanced visual perception, superior empathy and theory of mind, strong spatial, auditory, and semantic memory, and higher levels of divergent thinking. Additionally, they exhibit exceptional creativity, attention to detail, problem solving skills, and innovative thinking (Dr. Roseann, n.d.). While it is important to try and ease the struggles of neurodivergent people, it is equally important to recognize and celebrate their strengths.


Conclusion

Neurodivergent people face many struggles in their lives due to the stigma revolving around people with “disabilities.” People with neurodevelopmental conditions are just like us, with only a couple of differences in their brain structure which affect the way they think and act. As explained above, these disabilities are often pathways for strengths in certain aspects of life that other “normal people” might struggle with. Neurodivergent individuals need to be accepted by a society that is willing to embrace their differences as natural variations. Why should we focus solely on their struggles when they have so many strengths to offer?




References



Breen, J., & Buckley, S. (2016, July). Autistic spectrum disorder post-diagnostic support group: Model outline and parental experiences. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303792742_Autistic_spectrum_disorder_post-diagnostic_support_group_Model_outline_and_parental_experiences


Dr. Roseann. (n.d.). The Neurodivergent Umbrella: A Guide to Understanding and Supporting Neurodiversity. https://drroseann.com/the-neurodivergent-umbrella/


Dutta, D. S. S. (2020, March 30). Differences in the Brains of People with Severe Mental Illnesses. News Medical Life Sciences. https://www.news-medical.net/health/Differences-in-the-Brains-of-People-with-Severe-Mental-Illnesses.aspx


Electricwala, M. (2024, August 27). Neurotransmitters: Roles, Functions, and Impact on Mental Health. https://www.mavehealth.com/blogs/neurotransmitters-functions-examples-disorders


Goldman, B. (2015, February 4). Different mental disorders linked to same brain-matter loss, study finds. https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/02/different-mental-disorders-cause-same-brain-matter-loss.html


Maw, K. J., Beattie, G., & Burns, E. J. (n.d.). Cognitive strengths in neurodevelopmental disorders, conditions and differences: A critical review. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0028393224000654


Neurodivergent: What It Is, Symptoms & Types. (n.d.). Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved March 10, 2025, from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/symptoms/23154-neurodivergent

 
 
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