1.3 The Monotropic Expansion Model

To achieve these goals, this paper introduces Monotropic Expansion, a systems-oriented cognitive model explicitly grounded in neurological and synaptic processing. The Monotropic Expansion model provides an alternative to the deficit-based view, positing that what is often seen as “autism” is in fact observed pathology borne out of a flawed but broadly accepted notion of measurably and categorically “normal” behavior.

The core premise is that autistic cognition is not merely behaviorally divergent from neurotypical patterns—it fundamentally differs in the structural organization of attention, meaning-building, and cognitive processing. Monotropic Expansion posits that autistic cognition is characterized by anchoring attention on a singular, internally salient point and expanding outward through deliberate, iterative contextual integration. This process contrasts distinctly with polytropic cognition, characterized by external convergence and top-down imposition of generalized frameworks onto specific contexts.

A central problem with existing clinical and cultural models of autism is their inversion of mechanism and outcome. Observable autistic behaviors, typically interpreted through normative biases, are treated as core deficits, while the underlying cognitive processes remain misunderstood or ignored. This inversion perpetuates the widespread pathologization of autistic traits without recognizing their adaptive functionality or inherent logical coherence.

Monotropic Expansion is a theoretical model, open to empirical validation through future research. Furthermore, terminology such as “neurotypical” is used for descriptive convenience and does not imply a rigid dichotomy or negate the diversity of cognitive styles within any population.