1/22 What is Neurodivergence?

Neurodivergence isn’t one thing—it’s a whole spectrum of ways the brain processes, learns, and experiences the world. This week, we’ll explore how different forms of neurodivergence show up in daily life, from ADHD and dyslexia to epilepsy, processing disorders, Tourette’s, and more.

We’ll talk about what these differences can look like day to day, how they intersect, and how we can better support one another as peers, classmates, and friends. This is a relaxed, discussion-based meeting open to anyone interested in learning more—no background knowledge required.

Our GBM will be on 9/21, in Rueben-Cooke Building, Room 207

Here are a few kinds of neurodivergence that we will discuss:

• Dysautonomia

  • Autonomic Neuropathy

  • Vasovagal Syncope

  • Hyperadrenergic POTS

• Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) 

• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS)

• Fibromyalgia / Chronic Pain-Related Cognitive Differences

• Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

• Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

• ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Dyslexia 

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) / Concussion Effects

• Migraine Disorders

• Tourette Syndrome and Tic Disorders

• Cerebral Palsy

• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

• Anxiety Disorders

• Encephalitis

and MORE

Some Readings of Interest:

• Chapman, R. (2020). Defining neurodiversity for research and practice. In H. B. Roqvist, N. Chown, & A. Stenning (Eds.), Neurodiversity Studies: A New Critical Paradigm (pp. [chapter pages]). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429322297-21 

• Dwyer, P. (2022). The neurodiversity approach(es): What are they and what do they mean for researchers? Human Development. https://doi.org/10.1159/000523723 

• Graber, A., et al. (2024). Tourette syndrome: A catalyst for operationalizing the neurodiversity paradigm in neurology. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000209572 

• Robertson, M. M. (2015). A personal 35 year perspective on Gilles de la Tourette syndrome: Prevalence, phenomenology, comorbidities, and coexistent psychopathologies. The Lancet Psychiatry, 2(1), 68-87. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(14)00132-1 

• Ban, S. (2025). Applying a neurodiversity lens to living with obsessive compulsive disorder. International Mad Studies Journal, 3(SI1), e1-e14. https://doi.org/10.58544/imsj.v3iSI1.9485 

• Stein, D. J., et al. (2019). Obsessive-compulsive disorder. Nature Reviews Disease Primers. (If you want, I can format this one perfectly with volume/issue/pages/DOI too - your list didn’t include the full author string, so I’m matching the “Stein et al., 2019” you referenced.)

• Csecs, J. L. L., Iodice, V., Rae, C. L., Brooke, A., Simmons, R., Quadt, L., et al. (2022). Joint hypermobility links neurodivergence to dysautonomia and pain. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 12, 786916. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.786916 

• Eccles, J. A., Beacher, F. D. C. C., Gray, M. A., Jones, C. L., Minati, L., Harrison, N. A., & Critchley, H. D. (2012). Brain structure and joint hypermobility: Relevance to the expression of psychiatric symptoms. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 200(6), 508-509. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.111.092460 

• Ryan, L., et al. (2023). Autistic traits correlate with chronic musculoskeletal pain: A self-selected population based survey. OBM Neurobiology, 7(1). (This one is a journal webpage format; if you want the exact article number and DOI as a clean APA line, tell me and I’ll pull them from the page.)

• Giliberti, A., et al. (2025). Autism spectrum disorder and epilepsy: Pathogenetic mechanisms and therapeutic implications. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(7), 2431. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14072431 

• Sharma, M., et al. (2025). Genetic crosstalk of autism spectrum disorders and epilepsy. Frontiers in Neurology. (Same note as Stein - I can output the fully precise volume/article number/DOI line if you want it in one exact paste-ready citation list.)

• Vetri, L. (2020). Autism and migraine: An unexplored association? Brain Sciences, 10(9), 615. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci10090615 

• Yum, J., & Chu, M. K. (2025). Unraveling the connections between migraine and psychiatric comorbidities: A narrative review. Brain and Development, 47(4), 104392. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.braindev.2025.104392