This episode examines auditory processing challenges in autism, focusing on "listening dissonance"—the overwhelming blending of sounds due to reduced inhibition in the auditory brainstem pathway. It explains how high excitation and low parvalbumin interneuron activity cause unfiltered sensory input from the cochlear nucleus through the superior olive and inferior colliculus to overwhelm the thalamus and auditory cortex. Using a water hose analogy, the episode illustrates how poor filtering leads to sensory overload, recruiting higher cortical areas like the medial prefrontal cortex and salience network (ACC and anterior insula) in a failed top-down attempt to quiet noise. The result is emotional hijacking, adaptive failure, and real-world risks like fleeing to dangerous places, with practical implications like noise-canceling headphones and the need for understanding in autism support.

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00:00 Listening Dissonance Introduction, Auditory Filtering

02:15 Excitation-Inhibition Imbalance, Seesaw Analogy 04:30 Brainstem Auditory Pathway, Superior Olive, Inferior Colliculus

07:45 Water Hose Analogy for Sensory Overload, Inhibition as Filter

10:50 Auditory Cortex Role, Thalamus Recruitment, Mini-Columns

13:20 Prefrontal Cortex Top-Down Control, Medial/Orbital Areas

16:10 Salience Network Hijacking, ACC and Anterior Insula

19:00 Emotional Circuits Overload, Adaptive Response Failure

21:40 Real-World Implications, Drowning Risks, Noise-Canceling Headphones

24:30 Conclusion, Beatles Music Blend Comparison, Future Episode Tease

X: https://x.com/rps47586

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxEzLKXkjppo3nqmpXpzuA

email: [email protected]