I have a theory that makes sense of why we feel, think and act differently. What follows is an explanation of how this theory works.
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Hardware dictates what a system is capable of. Software dictates what it does.
Experience, thought and a variety of other factors form your software but a lot of behaviour can be understood by recognising the Sensitivity and Speed of your body/mind hardware.
Sensitivity dictates how intensely you feel a sensation or the importance of information carried through the mind.
More intense stimuli will naturally lead to information of a higher priority. For example, a loud noise is registered as important and will draw your attention.
Milder stimuli will have less priority: a quiet sound may go unnoticed.
The mind can also actively prioritise certain information through focus, bringing them to the forefront and reducing the awareness of other information.
In neurotypical (considered "normal") functioning, sensitivity is towards the centre of its range, leaving room to assign varying levels of priority to different stimuli.
Like managing emails, High Priority mail would be read carefully, taking in all the details. Low Priority mail can be skim read, getting a generalised idea of the message.
Some minds have a higher or lower sensitivity to begin with, affecting the priority status of all the information they deal with.
High Sensitivity: Everything is assigned High Priority, leading to detail-oriented processing.
Low Sensitivity: Everything is assigned Low Priority, leading to generalised, context-oriented processing.
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Speed dictates how much, or how wide a range of information can be processed over time.
A High (H) Priority (P) & Low (L) Speed (S) mind often processes closely related details from a small range.
An LPHS mind might process as much as a HPLS mind, but they will be broadly related details from a larger range.
An HPHS mind will process more details. They will be closely related from a larger range.
An LPLS mind will process fewer details. They will be broadly related from a small range.
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If a sensation is focused upon with a high speed mind, the feeling will be more extreme, regardless of sensitivity.
For the same stimulus, when compared to a neurotypical mind:
HPLS can feel the sensation with more intensity.
LPHS can feel the sensation less intensely but is also able feel the sensation with more intensity, if it is focused upon.
HPHS can feel the sensation with the highest intensity, without any additional focus.
LPLS can feel the sensation less intensely.
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Speed affects the ability to form memories: faster speed allows for more information to be committed to memory, with less active focus required.
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Faster minds make more predictions and come up with ideas from a broader range of information.
Slower minds make fewer predictions and come up with ideas from a narrow range of information.
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Sensitivity and Speed also affect body movement.
I can do accents and impressions because my HPLS bodymind can observe vocalisations, recognise the details in how they're being made and then precisely control a small range of muscles to replicate those sounds with my voice.
My partner dances with natural fluidity because his LPHS bodymind quickly processes music into ideas which are then translated to movement across a broad range of muscles throughout their body.
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Conclusion:
The sensitivity and speed of an individual can aid in understanding (or even predicting) how they think and what they do.
More extreme levels of Sensitivity and Speed in an individual lead to more extreme talents and difficulties.
If values are assigned to the sensitivity and speed, it can plot them on a 2-Dimensional Neurodiversity Spectrum.
If scientifically valid and proven, the Sensitivity & Speed Spectrum could be a foundation for a more helpful, comprehensive and accessible understanding of the natural variety between different minds.
Note:
There's also another factor, dictated by the mind's capability or capacity to initially form connections. Further research and observation will be required to accurately define it.
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If you have questions, comments or are interested in finding out your place on this spectrum, please get in touch. Assessing more people will help to make sure my theories are valid and accurate. It also means I can more precisely define the different levels that exist on the spectrum. This, in turn, will hopefully mean that I can help more people!
