Monotropism Glossary
Key terms and concepts. Definitions drawn from Murray, Lesser, Lawson (2005), Lawson (2025), and lived experience.
Core Terms
Monotropism
A cognitive style where attention focuses narrowly and deeply on a small number of interests at any time. The opposite of polytropism.
"me in a dark space with a candle" — My words, 2023
Polytropism
A cognitive style where attention is distributed across many channels simultaneously. The "neurotypical default" (though plenty of NTs are also monotropic).
"taking ritalin... i am able to broad focus as if i can see more then one thing at a time" — My words, 2023
Attention Tunnelling
Murray's (1992) original term. The phenomenon of focused attention creating a "tunnel" where peripheral information is not processed.
SAACA
Single Attention and Associated Cognition in Autism. Lawson's academic framework, the PhD thesis that formalized monotropism research.
Interest System
The network of things that can capture attention. In monotropism, few interests are active at once, but they receive high attention investment.
Attention Investment
The limited resource model: attention is like capital. Monotropics invest heavily in few stocks. Polytropics diversify.
Attention Patterns
Hyperfocus
Intense, sustained attention on a single subject. The natural state of a monotropic mind when engaged.
Flow State
Csikszentmihalyi's concept. Monotropics access flow easily — the architecture enables it. The challenge is getting into flow (interest-dependent) and getting out (transition cost).
Attention Residue
When switching tasks, attention doesn't cleanly transfer. Residue from the previous focus lingers, reducing capacity for the new task. Higher in monotropics.
Switching Cost
The cognitive and emotional cost of changing attention focus. In monotropism, this cost is high. Interruptions are expensive.
Related Concepts
Double Empathy Problem
Milton (2012). The insight that difficulty in understanding is bidirectional — NTs struggle to understand autistics as much as autistics struggle to understand NTs.
Not a deficit. A mismatch.
Spiky Profile
The uneven distribution of abilities in autistics. Extreme strength in some areas, struggle in others. Monotropism explains this: the tunnel goes deep where it points.
Interest-Based Nervous System
ADHD terminology (Dodson) that overlaps with monotropism. Attention follows interest, not importance or obligation.
Context Blindness
Information learned in one context may not be accessible in another. Monotropic attention creates strong context-dependent memories.
Object Impermanence
"when i switch tasks... previous ones become dead for me, as if they dont exist"
Not literal belief that objects cease to exist, but functional unavailability of things outside current attention.
Lived Experience Terms
The Tunnel
My shorthand for monotropic attention. A searchlight in a dark room. Where it points, that's all that exists.
The Beam
The focused attention itself. Narrow but intense. Can illuminate one thing completely while leaving everything else in darkness.
Tunnel Shift
When interest changes, the whole tunnel moves. Previous focus doesn't fade — it disappears.
Tunnel Death
What happens to projects/interests when the beam moves. They don't continue at low intensity. They stop existing in awareness.
The Prosthetic
External systems that preserve what the tunnel leaves behind. My Brain MCP system. Searchable memory that doesn't require the tunnel to point at it.
Medication Terms
Polytropic Simulation
What stimulant medication does for monotropics. Temporarily enables distributed attention. The room lights turn on.
"taking ritalin 20mg lx feels like..." — The broadening effect
Borrowed Mode
The temporary cognitive style enabled by medication. Useful but borrowed — not native, and with costs (crash, flatness, "not quite myself").
Academic Terms
Interest System Activation
When an interest is "lit up" in the attention system. Monotropics have fewer simultaneously activated interests.
Attention Distribution
How attention is allocated across the interest system. Narrow (monotropic) vs. broad (polytropic).
Cognitive Inertia
Difficulty starting and stopping. Related to switching cost but specifically about momentum — once the tunnel is moving one direction, changing direction is hard.