Neurodiversity
![Close-up photo of a blue eye with detailed lashes and skin texture visible.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/c7cca1dc-ba43-4925-a513-1d35b81db35f/3728570749_b8a20d72bd_o.jpg?top=306&left=0&cropWidth=3264&cropHeight=1836&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Mind and brain
idea
The pupil of the eye opens a remarkable window into the mind
From mental effort to the content of a person’s imagination, these tiny apertures reveal far more than you might realise
by Christoph Strauch
![Photo of people in winter clothing exiting a tram at a busy station.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/d14159fd-9da1-4480-b73c-be3132630c99/panos_00295883.jpg?top=234&left=0&cropWidth=4496&cropHeight=2529&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Autism
idea
Late autism diagnosis: it’s a relief, but who’s behind the mask?
By the time an adult learns they’re autistic, they have often been covering up for years. A period of self-discovery awaits
by Leonie Mercedes
![Photo of two people playing chess outdoors, seated on tyres near a graffiti-covered wall and blooming tree under cloudy skies.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/2eda2448-d9fd-456e-99c1-51b71f949501/panos_00306258.jpeg?top=60&left=60&cropWidth=2320&cropHeight=2320&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Neurodiversity
guide
How to be a good friend to an Autistic person
Autistic and non-autistic people see the social world differently. But openness and empathy can foster a valuable bond
by Abby Sesterka & Erin Bulluss
![Colourful abstract illustration of a person with closed eyes, featuring vibrant brushstrokes and line work in shades of orange, yellow, green, pink and blue.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/9fd9f91c-bad4-4d39-ab0d-9cf7d0696127/original.jpg?top=21&left=0&cropWidth=2000&cropHeight=1125&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Autism
film
Enter the sensory world of an overstimulated Autistic mind
A film by Miguel Jirón and Scott Mahoy
![Blurry photo of a vibrant bar scene with a table of drinks, red lighting and indistinct figures moving around.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/839ba94e-28f3-4122-9211-ba70cc22ae99/final-up-gettyimages-129369129.jpg?top=64&left=0&cropWidth=2000&cropHeight=1125&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Neurodiversity
idea
Living without mental imagery may shield against trauma’s impact
Discovering I have aphantasia helped me understand my response to being assaulted and why I wasn’t debilitated by PTSD
by J B Smith
![Abstract painting of a vibrant landscape with trees, buildings, and a river in bold geometric shapes and colours.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/3054304b-0359-4b57-86d0-b3e92172523d/saam-2002_24_3.jpg?top=478&left=0&cropWidth=6288&cropHeight=3537&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Creativity
idea
A key part of creativity is picking up on what others overlook
We all constantly filter a flood of details coming in. This process helps explain what gives some brains a creative edge
by Madeleine Gross
![Man in a pink jumper intensely plays a piano in a cosy room with a wooden interior, while another person, blurred in the foreground, plays drums.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/caf3d4e8-c56f-43c0-b7be-8c0a7afc812a/original.jpg?top=21&left=0&cropWidth=2000&cropHeight=1125&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Music
film
An Autistic pianist navigates between the pulls of solitude and partnership
Directed by Austen McCowen and Will Hewitt
![A smiling neurodiverse child holds a red balloon. In the background people hold balloons of various colours](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/a18337c8-35ae-4777-8561-3a3f1cc9da86/original.jpg?top=4&left=0&cropWidth=1936&cropHeight=1089&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Neurodiversity
idea
Essentialism is insidious – but it might also be helpful
Stereotypes are obviously bad, but believing you share an essence with others could help people who feel marginalised
by Ariana Orvell & Alexa Lebrón-Cruz
![Photo of a busy underground train platform with people boarding and exiting a stationary train.](https://images.aeonmedia.co/images/fc3180cd-ced1-4dc1-bfb9-8e7c3f29b960/final-gettyimages-478137124.jpeg?top=192&left=0&cropWidth=4992&cropHeight=2808&width=3840&quality=75&format=auto)
Neurodiversity
idea
Adapting to the neurotypical world is not the same as conforming
As an autistic person, this is how I draw the line between adapting in a way that’s good for me and simple conformity
by Jack Ori