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TIL why those with autism avoid eye contact; an overactive subcortical system, combined with an imbalance in the excitatory and inhibitory systems, can make eye contact feel like 'burning' (www.sciencedaily.com)

submitted 1 year ago by 58008@lemmy.world to c/TodayILearned@kbin.social

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Direct gaze - that is, eye contact with another person - causes the subcortical system to overload, and the parts of the brain that deal with arousal and calming are failing to strike a balance. The end result is that direct eye contact triggers a physiological response which makes it physically uncomfortable to maintain eye contact.

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[–] Lunyan@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago

I don't know if I would describe it for myself as 'burning'. Making eye contact to me feels overly intimate in a way that feels uncomfortable with people I'm not close to