The HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) brain differs through deeper processing, heightened sensory awareness, intense emotional reactions, and increased empathy, characterized by more activity in brain regions for attention, emotion (like the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and mirror neurons), and richer neural connections, causing even subtle stimuli to be processed profoundly, leading to greater insight but also overwhelm.
Research has already shown that brains of HSPs are markedly different from others. There is a different sensitivity associated with activation of brain regions involved in awareness, integration of sensory information, empathy, and action planning.
Across all conditions, HSP scores were associated with increased brain activation of regions involved in attention and action planning (in the cingulate and premotor area [PMA]).
HSPs have a variant of the serotonin transporter encoding gene, known as 5-HTTLPR. The 5-HTTLPR gene variant decreases serotonin in the brain and increases sensitivity to surroundings. The HS brain may have less mood-stabilizing serotonin than the non-HS brain, but it has an enhanced ability to learn from experience.
6. HSPs feel everything more deeply than others, which can make them seem over-emotional to others who don't understand their nature. HSPs have a heightened sensitivity to many things in life. They can be easily overwhelmed by loud noises, strong odors, or large crowds.
Some links have been found with intelligence as well. However, high sensitivity is not the same as being “gifted”. Although some highly sensitive children may be “gifted”, most highly sensitive children will not differ substantially from less sensitive children regarding their intelligence.
As mentioned earlier, HSP is not an official diagnosis. However, it is recognized as a form of neurodivergence. This means individuals with this sensory sensitivity process and respond to information differently than others.
Genetics influences high sensitivity by underlying the biological traits that contribute to how individuals perceive and respond to stimuli. Specific genetic variations are associated with the heightened emotional responsiveness and sensory processing typical of highly sensitive individuals.
The Neurobiological Foundation of HSP Trauma Susceptibility
HSPs process both positive and negative experiences more deeply. Their nervous systems are more easily overwhelmed by intense stimuli, making them more likely to experience situations as traumatic that others might process as merely stressful.
It's important to note that someone can be both an HSP and autistic. However, HSP alone does not account for the broader behavioral, social, and developmental aspects of autism.
HSP is an autoimmune disorder. This is when the body's immune system attacks the body's own cells and organs. With HSP, this immune response may be caused by an upper respiratory tract infection. Other immune triggers may include an allergic reaction, medicine, injury, or being out in cold weather.
Signs of a Dysregulated Nervous System
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), also called familial spastic paraparesis, is a group of rare and progressive inherited disorders that cause weakness and stiffness of the legs (spasticity). There are more than 80 genetic types of HSP. Early on, people may have some trouble walking and feel some stiffness.
HSPs essentially feel and integrate sensory information in a way that leads to a high degree of attunement to others and to the environment. Due to their wiring, HSPs feel, think, love, and process life around them very intensely. This sixth sense is why so many people perceive you to be psychic.
The so-called "God spot" in the brain is a theoretical concept that there is a single structure or area of the brain responsible for religious belief and experience. Most studies, however, have not shown there to actually exist this localized area responsible for all religiosity.
Many addicts inherit a brain that has trouble just saying no to drugs. A study in Science finds that cocaine addicts have abnormalities in areas of the brain involved in self-control. And these abnormalities appear to predate any drug abuse.
Life can, at times, feel harder simply because the world hasn't been designed for the sensitive person. So, it's important for the highly sensitive soul to understand their trait in order to create a life that works for them and not against them.
While most BPDs and are also HSPs, the reverse is definitely not true. HSPs can even do some BPD behaviors when under the extreme stress of abuse or trauma, but it is not pervasive (in every environment) which is an essential element for BPD.
Signs of childhood trauma
This article examines links between giftedness and high sensitivity, evidence that many gifted individuals are highly sensitive, and research suggesting lower dopamine and serotonin in highly sensitive people.
The introverted (I) intuitive (N) types (“INs”)—INFJ, INFP, INTJ and INTP—are among the most “sensitive” of the personality types. This is especially true of those who are more turbulent than assertive.
People are only slightly more likely to share personality traits with their parents than they are with a random stranger, researchers say. The study concludes it is impossible to accurately predict a child's patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving from those of their mother or father.
HSP and Conflict
Communication of our own feelings and understanding how the other feels, can often reduce the points of conflict. We don't have to agree with the other's point of view, but if we can understand why they think that way, we are a step closer to deepening communication.
The "6-second rule" for autism is a communication strategy where a speaker pauses for about six seconds after asking a question or giving information, giving the autistic person extra time to process it without feeling rushed, which helps reduce anxiety and allows for a more thoughtful response, reducing frustration for both parties. Instead of repeating or rephrasing, which can be confusing, you wait, and if needed, repeat the exact same words after the pause.
Around 90% of autism cases are attributed to genetic factors, meaning autism is highly heritable, with many different genes contributing, rather than a single cause, often interacting with environmental influences during early brain development, though specific environmental factors don't cause it but can increase risk. Twin studies show strong genetic links, with concordance rates between 60-90% in identical twins, and research points to complex interactions of many genes and prenatal/perinatal factors.