The human brain is an incredibly complex and diverse organ. The most recent estimate is that the brain contains 86 billion neurons, and each neuron has the potential to make tens of thousands of synaptic connections with other neurons. This means that there are well over 100 trillion possible synaptic connection that can be made in the brain, and countless neural pathways.
With the sheer number of potential connections, it is easy to understand that no two brains are the same. Despite this diversity, there are inevitable similarities as well. And where there are similarities, there are statistical norms and averages. Prominent patterns have emerged over time creating a definition for what is normal, for what is the expected outcome based on averages. This does not mean that average is 'good' or 'better.' Average is nothing more than a mathematical probability.
Even with all of the complexity and diversity of the human brain, prominent patterns have emerged over time. The neurotypical brain is a brain that has forms, structures and processes that fall within the statistical norm in certain categories. When they fall outside the statistical norm, they can be referred to as non-neurotypical, neuroatypical, neurodivergent, or more colloquially; strange, odd, different or weird.
The term 'normal' is often used synonymously with words like average, typical, standard or appropriate. In this case, 'abnormal' would be better or worse than average, atypical, unusual, special, or inappropriate. But this is a false definition, because any two things are going to be different from each other. These differences offer a variety of challenges as well as opportunities and are more often subjective based on perspective.
Someone who is introverted, is autistic, or has ADD, or someone who experiences hyperthymesia or dyspraxia might have common traits which are similar to others of that subgroup. Or they may not. They may have traits similar to others outside of the subgroup. Or they may not. Imagine a Venn diagram of nearly eight billion circles of varying shapes and sizes, one for each human being on the planet, laid out on a single image. It be would full of overlap and outliers. A mosaic of human potential in which each person shares some traits with one group and some traits with others.
Imagine a box of clear marbles. They may vary in size or have other unique characteristics, but they all share the common trait of clarity. If you add another clear marble, it easily falls into conformity with the rest. But, add a red marble and it becomes easily identifiable. Even if it has a similar shape or density to other marbles in the box, because it does not conform to the most common identifiable characteristic of the rest, it will inevitably be set apart from the rest. The clear marbles may have other characteristics that make them different but they all share an easily identifiable trait. The red one is more different, a judgement based on a feature that has been determined as most relevant.
Our species has a penchant for patterns and order. Class systems, cliques, hierarchies are all social constructs used to place people into groups that can be identified, organized and labeled. We name the groups, then we come up with terms for what is outside those groups. The term "on the spectrum" denotes something separate from the majority, when in reality, every single human being on the planet is on the spectrum of neuropossibility. In light of this, the range of human potential goes beyond our ability to calculate. Within this range of opportunity, patterns will inevitably emerge, but patterns are not rules. Nor are they standards of what is acceptable and what is not.
The spectrum of human neural development is not a linear spectrum. It is a multidirectional patchwork of trillions of potential outcomes and possibilities ranging from how the brain is physically formed, to how neurotransmitters are produced. From how it functions and processes information to how it changes and adapts as a response to outside stimuli. The potential outcomes are incalculable.
While we cannot ignore differences, we can be aware of which differences we are more likely to accept and which we are not. While we may weigh out some unifying factors as more important or more valuable, the only single unifying factor that we all share is that we are all different.
