56. Disorders in managing non-social information
Non-social information—for example, finding one's way, navigating a building, understanding where things are or locating one's pyjamas and clean socks—can quickly become a real puzzle. We then ask ourselves:
● Where am I?
● How do I get from A to B?
● Where can I take refuge?
● Where can I eat?
Mental maps in the brain
Each place calls on specific orientation mechanisms. We constantly hold information about our surroundings: their layout, their dimensions, the objects they contain and the arrangement of the space. These data are processed in particular areas of the brain, where neurotransmitters ensure their transmission. The information is then transformed into algorithms and stored in our minds, like a document.
Origins of the disorders
Difficulties with orientation may be linked to:
● A deficit in the transport of information
● A failure to create supporting algorithms
● An inappropriate way of recording information
Conversely, some people with autism spectrum disorders (AS) have exceptional navigation skills, to the point where this abundance of information can become overwhelming.
Many researchers have explored this field, although the disorders associated with autism remain largely misunderstood. Drawing on more than twenty years of observations and knowledge of neuroscience, I am able to offer a few provisional syntheses.
Author: jp
Source: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), The Brain, by Nancy Kanwisher.
Therapeutic approaches
Several approaches can be considered to treat these disorders:
● Biochemical and dietary care
● Specific exercises
● Therapies aimed at stimulating the orientation process and self-awareness