Cited by 394Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchGenetics and Neurodevelopmental DisordersNeuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research

The intense world syndrome-an alternative hypothesis for autism

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Markram, Henry·2007·Frontiers in Neuroscience

Abstract

Autism is a devastating neurodevelopmental disorder with a polygenetic predisposition that seems to be triggered by multiple environmental factors during embryonic and/or early postnatal life. While significant advances have been made in identifying the neuronal structures and cells affected, a unifying theory that could explain the manifold autistic symptoms has still not emerged. Based on recent synaptic, cellular, molecular, microcircuit, and behavioral results obtained with the valproic acid (VPA) rat model of autism, we propose here a unifying hypothesis where the core pathology of the autistic brain is hyper-reactivity and hyper-plasticity of local neuronal circuits. Such excessive neuronal processing in circumscribed circuits is suggested to lead to hyper-perception, hyper-attention, and hyper-memory, which may lie at the heart of most autistic symptoms. In this view, the autistic spectrum are disorders of hyper-functionality, which turns debilitating, as opposed to disorders of hypo-functionality, as is often assumed. We discuss how excessive neuronal processing may render the world painfully intense when the neocortex is affected and even aversive when the amygdala is affected, leading to social and environmental withdrawal. Excessive neuronal learning is also hypothesized to rapidly lock down the individual into a small repertoire of secure behavioral routines that are obsessively repeated. We further discuss the key autistic neuropathologies and several of the main theories of autism and re-interpret them in the light of the hypothesized Intense World Syndrome.

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Crossref · 10.3389/neuro.01.1.1.006.2007

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  • The Intense World Theory proposes that there is excessive functioning of neural circuits, such that the neural circuits are hyper-reactive, hyper-plastic, and generally up-regulated.

    “This neurobiologically-informed theory proposes that there is excessive functioning of neural circuits, such that the neural circuits are hyper-reactive, hyper-plastic, and generally up-regulated.”
  • The Intense World Theory proposes that this creates an intense world, a fragmented world, and an aversive world.

    “This creates an intense world, a fragmented world (with focus on individual components of the environment), and an aversive world.”
  • The Intense World Theory proposes that low-level sensory perception is enhanced, coupled with deficits in sensory integration.

    “Low-level sensory perception is enhanced (intense world), coupled with deficits in sensory integration (fragmented world).”
  • The Intense World Theory proposes that perceptual up-regulation results in avoidance of highly emotional and unpredictable cues, such as eyes, faces, and social interactions.

    “Such perceptual up-regulation results in an avoidance of highly emotional and unpredictable cues, such as eyes, faces, and social interactions.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. Kling A. Brothers L. (1992) The amygdala and social behavior. In Aggleton J. P., ed. Neurobiological Aspects of Emotion, Memory, and Mental Dysfunction (New York, Wiley).
  2. Lord C. Spence S. (2006) Autism sepctrum disorder: phenotype and diagnosis. In Understanding Autism: From Basic Neuroscience to Treatment, Moldin S.O. Rubenstein J. L., eds., (Boca Raton, CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group) pp 1– 23

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Authors
Markram, H.
Affiliations
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
Corresponding author
Markram, Henry
Venue
Frontiers in Neuroscience
Published
2007-11-01
Volume
1
Issue
1
Pages
77-96
ISSN
  • 1662-453X (ISSN-L)
  • 1662-4548
OpenAlex
W2128332414
Cited by
394
References
258
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 17 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 35 · 2018: 25 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 22 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 28 · 2013: 26 · 2012: 18
FWCI
4.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Infoscience (Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) (submittedVersion)
Funders
European Commission
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, neural circuits, neocortex, amygdala, social withdrawal, repetitive behavior, autism theory, neuropathology

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