Final answer:
Individuals with ASD may react differently to touch due to atypical neurological wiring and differences in synaptic pruning, affecting sensory processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists have found that individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may be psychologically affected by touch due to differences in neurological processing. Sensory neurons in the skin allow us to feel pain, pressure, or temperature, and in ASD, there is often atypical neurological wiring. This "incorrect" wiring can mean that the brains of some ASD patients lack regular levels of synaptic pruning, affecting how sensory input is processed, which may lead to heightened sensitivity or aversion to touch. ASD symptoms cover a broad spectrum, and diagnosis is influenced by environmental, geographic, and socio-economic factors. The causes of ASD are complex, with genetics playing a primary role.
ASD is a complex disorder with a spectrum of symptoms, such as impaired social skills and repetitive behaviors. Environmental factors, geography, economics, and ethnicity can influence the diagnosis and perception of ASD. Genetic factors are also significant, although the exact causes of ASD, aside from certain genetic conditions like Fragile X and Rett's Syndrome, remain largely unknown.