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# Talent in autism: hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity

## Details

**Authors** Baron-Cohen et al.

**Year** 2009

**Publisher** Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London.

**Discipline** Neuroscience

[Read it at the publisher](https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2008.0337) 
10.1098/rstb.2008.0337

## In authors' words

### Abstract

We argue that hyper-systemizing predisposes individuals to show talent, and review evidence that hyper-systemizing is part of the cognitive style of people with autism spectrum conditions (ASC). We then clarify the hyper-systemizing theory, contrasting it to the weak central coherence (WCC) and executive dysfunction (ED) theories. The ED theory has difficulty explaining the existence of talent in ASC. While both hyper-systemizing and WCC theories postulate excellent attention to detail , by itself excellent attention to detail will not produce talent. By contrast, the hyper-systemizing theory argues that the excellent attention to detail is directed towards detecting ‘if p, then q’ rules (or [input–operation–output] reasoning). Such law-based pattern recognition systems can produce talent in systemizable domains. Finally, we argue that the excellent attention to detail in ASC is itself a consequence of sensory hypersensitivity . We review an experiment from our laboratory demonstrating sensory hypersensitivity detection thresholds in vision. We conclude that the origins of the association between autism and talent begin at the sensory level, include excellent attention to detail and end with hyper-systemizing.

### What they set out to do (purpose)

Explore why savantism is more commonly seen in people with autism.

### What they found (results)

Autistic children can systematize better. Children on the autism spectrum perform better on physics tests than neurotypical children. Even children aged 8-11 with Asperger's syndrome performed better than neurotypical teens.

## Commentary

### In short

The Systems pattern is present and sometimes heightened in people who are not neurotypical. The brain does not have to function normally to perform the Systems pattern.

### In more detail

Savantism is found more often in people with an autism spectrum condition than in people without it. In Baron-Cohen et al.’s research, they explored what cognitive aspects of autistic people cause this phenomenon. Across people with an autism spectrum condition is the ability to have excellent attention to detail. Baron-Cohen et al. argue that this is born of their enhanced ability to Systematize. They also tend to have sensory hypersensitivity, which contributes to their ability to Systematize. Systematizing is about “recognizing repeating patterns” of the stimuli the person is interacting with/paying attention to. In their research, a system is defined as a thing that follows rules, and systematizing is the process of identifying those rules with the purpose of predicting how the system will behave. They recognize these main types of systems: ● Social systems (i.e., a business or even a dance routine); ● Numerical systems (i.e., a calendar or a bus schedule); ● Collectible systems (i.e., making distinctions between rocks or wood); ● Mechanical systems (i.e., a window lock or video camera); ● Motoric systems (i.e., bouncing on trampoline or throwing a ball); ● Natural systems (i.e., weather patterns); and ● Abstract systems (i.e., musical notation or language syntax)

What is the evidence that autistic children systematize better? Children on the autism spectrum perform better on physics tests than neurotypical children. Even children aged 8-11 with Asperger's syndrome performed better than neurotypical teens. The Systems pattern is present and sometimes heightened in people who are not neurotypical. The brain does not have to function normally to perform the Systems pattern.

**Patterns it shows** S

**How to cite this** Baron-Cohen et al. (2009). Talent in autism: hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London..