Today I Learned

37 readers

1 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] 4 points 1 year ago

Making eye contact with people gives me the same feeling as looking at the sun, but mentally.