Neurodiversity in the Intermountain West: How Frontier Environments Shaped an Evolutionary Legacy

Introduction: Echoes of Adaptation

The Intermountain West possesses a varied landscape, including arid basins, high peaks, and expansive skies. The region's history intertwines with human evolution, resilience, and diversity. This article examines the evolutionary aspects of neurodivergence and my experience as a neurodivergent individual, highlighting these traits' adaptive qualities.

Historically, survival in the challenging conditions of the Intermountain West necessitated resilience, creativity, and environmental awareness, traits often linked with neurodivergence. Cognitive strategies such as heightened sensory perception, exploratory drive, and innovative thinking were advantageous for early inhabitants.

As a neurodivergent individual, I find personal relevance in the Intermountain West's demanding environment. My neuro-divergent characteristics, including ADHD, sensory processing sensitivities, dyspraxia, emotional hyperarousal, and hyperlexia, reflect adaptive traits useful for survival. These traits contributed to quick responses to threats, problem-solving, and community building.

The examination of neurodivergence extends beyond historical context; it also prompts consideration of contemporary mental health and community care. Modern society frequently pathologizes neurodivergent traits, overlooking their evolutionary significance. Re-evaluating these traits can reframe them as integral components of human variation rather than disorders.

By exploring connections between the Intermountain West's environment and neurodivergence, this article aims to highlight neurodivergent traits' evolutionary roots, their challenges in modern society, and their potential to inform contemporary care systems. The region exemplifies the resilience and creativity needed to adapt successfully.

Neurodiversity as Evolutionary Adaptation

Neurodivergence includes a broad range of neurological variations, such as traits related to autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. From an evolutionary standpoint, these traits may have offered adaptive strengths that supported survival, creativity, and innovation in challenging environments. Early human societies may have benefited from cognitive diversity within their communities, where each neurotype contributed uniquely to group survival and cohesion.

Traits associated with ADHD, such as impulsivity, exploratory behaviors, and novelty-seeking, may have played important roles during the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras. Nomadic hunter-gatherer societies might have relied on individuals with a heightened drive for exploration and rapid decision-making to scout new territories, locate resources, and adapt quickly to changing environmental conditions. These traits, which can appear disruptive in modern structured settings, may have been crucial for navigating unpredictable landscapes and taking advantage of opportunities (Rantala et al., 2021; Seitz, 2022).

Similarly, heightened sensory perception linked to autism spectrum conditions may have provided advantages in detecting subtle environmental changes. Individuals with heightened sensitivity to auditory, visual, or tactile stimuli might have served as early warning systems, alerting their communities to potential threats such as predators, weather changes, or nearby resources (Pfuhl & Ekblad, 2018). This ability to detect and interpret nuanced environmental cues could have enhanced group survival strategies, particularly in harsh or volatile climates.

Cognitive traits associated with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, such as divergent thinking, enhanced pattern recognition, and visionary imagination, may have had adaptive value. Anthropological research suggests that individuals with these traits might have been the innovators, spiritual leaders, and storytellers of early societies, offering new solutions to challenges and fostering group cohesion through shared narratives and cultural practices (Durisko et al., 2016; Rantala et al., 2021). The creative and visionary thinking tied to these neurodivergent traits may have contributed to technological advancements, artistic expression, and the development of complex social structures.

Moreover, hyperfocus, common in both ADHD and autism, might have allowed individuals to engage in sustained, high-intensity productivity when needed. For instance, hyper-focused individuals may have excelled in crafting tools, tracking prey over long distances, or observing intricate patterns in the natural world - skills critical for survival in early human societies (Rantala et al., 2021; Seitz, 2022). Emotional sensitivity and hyperarousal, often linked to neurodivergence, might have further enhanced social attunement and group dynamics, fostering empathy and collective resilience.

Genetic contributions from ancestral populations also highlight the evolutionary roots of neurodivergent traits. Recent studies indicate the influence of Neanderthal DNA on modern human neurodiversity, suggesting that traits like heightened sensory processing and social variability were inherited from archaic hominins and continued as adaptive mechanisms (Pfuhl & Ekblad, 2018; Duński & Pękowska, 2022). These findings challenge deficit-based frameworks commonly applied to neurodivergent conditions, reframing them as integral components of human variation.

Viewing neurodivergence through an evolutionary lens shifts the focus from deficits to features and fosters an appreciation for the diversity of human cognition. Understanding these traits as ancestral adaptations highlights their enduring role in shaping human history and society, potentially informing more inclusive approaches to education, healthcare, and community care today.

Personal Resonance: A Living Legacy

As someone diagnosed with ADHD (hyperactive type), Sensory Processing Disorder, Dyspraxia, Emotional Hyperarousal, and Hyperlexia, I view these traits as more than individual diagnoses. They are expressions of human adaptability inherited over generations. While often seen as disorders, from an evolutionary perspective, they are strengths developed for survival in dynamic environments.

I now see my neurodivergence not as a limitation but as a legacy of tools refined over millennia to tackle challenges like shifting landscapes and scarce resources. My sensory attunement, impulsivity, creativity, and emotional intensity link me to ancestors who navigated wild terrains, innovated under pressure, and contributed to their communities' cultural memory.

Adaptive Traits and the Frontier Experience

The Intermountain West, characterized by its expansive vistas and challenging conditions, offers an ideal context for examining how neurodivergent traits historically served as essential adaptations. Historically, this frontier region, marked by uncertainty, frequent migration, and limited resources, necessitated a distinct set of cognitive and emotional tools closely aligned with traits associated with neurodivergence. This article examines four key traits that conferred significant advantages, drawing upon both research and personal reflections.

1. Enhanced Sensory Perception

Heightened sensory sensitivity, often observed in autistic and schizotypal individuals, was crucial for survival in frontier environments. The ability to detect subtle environmental changes could mean the difference between life and death. Enhanced sensory perception enabled individuals to identify distant predators, locate fresh water sources, or notice the faint rustle of edible plants (Pfuhl & Ekblad, 2018; Rantala et al., 2021). This perceptual acuity functioned as an early warning system, safeguarding both individuals and their communities.

Personal Connection

My experience with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) resonates deeply with these ancestral roles. My heightened sensitivity to tactile, auditory, and visual stimuli may feel overwhelming in modern contexts, but through an evolutionary lens, these traits reflect the survival strategies of my Neanderthal and Scandinavian ancestors. What is labeled as "oversensitivity" today was historically a critical advantage, enabling the detection of subtle environmental changes (Duński & Pękowska, 2022; Pfuhl & Ekblad, 2018).

2. Impulsivity and Exploratory Drive

Traits commonly associated with ADHD and bipolarity, such as impulsivity, risk-taking, and a drive for novelty, were vital for thriving in unpredictable frontier conditions. Quick and decisive action often determined success in hunting, navigating unknown territories, or seizing fleeting opportunities for resource acquisition. These traits, which modern society critiques as impulsive or scattered, were essential for adaptability and exploration (Rantala et al., 2021; Seitz, 2022).

Personal Insight

My hyperactive ADHD reflects a direct lineage to the traits of Yamnaya and Steppe populations (R-M269 lineage), whose survival depended on high dopamine-seeking behavior and constant movement. These ancestors excelled as herders, scouts, and warriors, thriving in expansive, open environments. I see their legacy in my own restless energy and ability to act quickly under pressure, reflecting those who navigated harsh terrains with courage and ingenuity (Esteller-Cucala et al., 2020; Rantala et al., 2021).

3. Creative Innovation and Pattern Recognition

Creativity and pattern recognition, hallmarks of traits associated with bipolarity, ADHD, and autism, were indispensable for solving complex problems in frontier environments. Divergent thinking enabled individuals to craft innovative tools, adapt to shifting conditions, and create cultural frameworks that supported communal survival. Autistic traits, such as heightened pattern recognition, were essential for tracking animal migrations, interpreting weather patterns, and understanding ecological systems (Durisko et al., 2016; Rantala et al., 2021).

Personal Archetype

My hyperlexia, manifesting as early, precocious word recognition and symbolic abstraction, connects me to Scandinavian and Celtic ancestors. In these cultures, oral traditions, poetry, and myth were central to survival, serving as repositories of knowledge and wisdom. Historically, individuals like me may have been scribes, storytellers, and keepers of sacred knowledge, preserving the cultural memory of their communities (Seitz, 2022). I carry this legacy forward, finding meaning in the patterns and stories that shape our world.

4. Hyperfocus and Emotional Attunement

Hyperfocus, a trait shared by individuals with ADHD and autism, allowed early humans to engage in sustained, high-intensity tasks when the stakes were high. Whether crafting tools, hunting game, or navigating new terrain, this intense focus was a survival asset. Combined with emotional hyperarousal, it created individuals uniquely attuned to environmental shifts and group dynamics, fostering both individual success and collective resilience (Rantala et al., 2021; Seitz, 2022).

Personal Experience

My dyspraxia, often seen as a challenge in motor coordination, carries deeper ancestral meanings as an expression of kinesthetic storytelling and emotional mediation. My emotional hyperarousal, rooted in matrilineal epigenetics (H6a1b maternal lineage), reflects a heightened limbic sensitivity that likely served my ancestors as a tool for group protection and synchronization. This sensitivity allowed them to respond empathetically to threats and maintain social harmony, traits echoed in my own lived experience.

Through both research and lived experience, it becomes evident that neurodivergent traits extend beyond modern challenges; they are reflections of ancient strengths, deeply embedded in human history. The Intermountain West, with its legacy of frontier survival, serves as a powerful reminder of the value of cognitive diversity. By reframing these traits as adaptive strategies rather than deficits, we honor the ancestral legacies they represent and build a foundation for more inclusive systems of care and understanding.

The Evolutionary Mismatch: When Strengths Become Vulnerabilities

Neurodivergent traits, historically beneficial for human adaptation, are not always aligned with modern societal structures. This "evolutionary mismatch" illustrates the differences between ancestral contexts, where neurodivergent traits were advantageous, and industrialized society, which mainly supports neurotypical norms. Traits like heightened sensory perception, impulsivity, and hyperfocus were once crucial for survival in dynamic environments but are now often seen as problematic in structured, overstimulating contemporary settings (Rantala et al., 2021; Seitz, 2022).

For instance, sensory sensitivity associated with autism might have been important for detecting environmental changes in frontier landscapes. However, today, environments with fluorescent lights, loud alarms, and synthetic sounds can overwhelm neurodivergent individuals, leading to sensory overload. Similarly, the impulsivity and novelty-seeking behaviors linked to ADHD, which aided exploration and rapid decision-making, are considered disruptive in classroom or office settings designed for prolonged focus and conformity (Pfuhl & Ekblad, 2018).

In regions like the Intermountain West, which have a history of adapting to rugged terrains, neurodivergent individuals often experience higher rates of mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality, connected to navigating environments that do not accommodate their strengths (Rantala et al., 2021). This mismatch highlights the need to reconsider systems of care, education, and policy, aiming to support the diversity of human cognition rather than imposing neurotypical standards.

Personal Reflection on Environmental Mismatch

Modern industrial culture is challenging for neurodivergent individuals. My neuro-stack, suited for rich sensory, narrative, and communal environments, struggles with artificial lighting, synthetic sounds, rigid schedules, and enclosed spaces. What is often called "sensitive" or "dysfunctional" is ancestral wiring adapted to different tempos, terrains, and truths (Esteller-Cucala et al., 2020; Pfuhl & Ekblad, 2018). My neurobiology was designed for:

Landscape Type	Description
Expansive, low-altitude, low-humidity landscapes	Open spaces that promote movement, exploration, and a natural rhythm of activity
Symbol-rich, storied lands blending narrative and geography	Environments where oral traditions and cultural memory are deeply intertwined with the land itself
Spaces with few vertical interruptions	Offering uninterrupted skies and natural rhythms, fostering a sense of harmony and alignment with nature’s cycles

Modern environments, which tend to be highly structured and stimulating, can increase sensory overload and emotional challenges for some individuals. This situation may affect personal well-being and reduce the potential contributions of neurodivergent individuals to their communities.

Consequences of Misaligned Care Practices

The healthcare and educational systems in the Intermountain West are primarily designed for neurotypical individuals. Consequently, methodologies and therapeutic approaches may not adequately address the specific needs of neurodivergent individuals, potentially leading to cycles of distress and marginalization. For example:

Area	Issues
Mental health care	Practices often focus on symptom mitigation rather than recognizing and building upon neurodivergent strengths.
Education	Curricula prioritize conformity and standardized testing, leaving little room for divergent thinking or creative problem-solving.
Policy	Systems of support frequently overlook the systemic barriers neurodivergent individuals face, instead of framing challenges as individual deficits.

This systemic inadequacy is associated with increased rates of mental health issues, including diseases of despair in the region (Rantala et al., 2021; Seitz, 2022). Understanding the evolutionary origins of neurodivergent traits provides an opportunity to adjust care practices and develop environments where these traits can be beneficial.

A New Vision for Neurodivergent-Affirming Care

Viewing neurodiversity through an evolutionary lens can revolutionize healthcare, education, and policy. To foster inclusivity, we should focus on:

Initiative	Description
Evolutionary and context-aware assessments	Recognizing how neurodivergent traits align with ancestral strengths and contemporary challenges.
Strengths-based therapeutic interventions	Focusing on building skills and resilience rather than merely addressing deficits.
Specialized training for healthcare providers	Equipping practitioners with the tools to understand and support neurodivergent individuals holistically.
Community- and place-based healing initiatives	Leveraging the natural landscapes and cultural histories of regions like the Intermountain West to foster connection and well-being.
Comprehensive policy reforms affirming neurodivergent identities	Ensuring that laws and systems reflect the diversity of human cognition and prioritize equity.

By implementing these changes, we can create environments where neurodivergent individuals not only succeed but excel, thereby reconnecting them to their historical strengths and fostering a more inclusive and supportive society.

Conclusion: Honoring Our Neurodivergent Legacies

The Intermountain West showcases an evolutionary legacy shaped by neurodivergent traits beneficial for frontier life. Understanding and honoring this heritage can lead to healing, empowerment, and true inclusion. Recognizing neurodiversity as part of our evolution helps us build a compassionate and respectful future.

My story, like many others, shows that neurodivergent traits are not deficits but ancestral strengths of resilience and adaptability. These stories are crucial to reshaping our view of neurodiversity and creating supportive spaces for everyone.

References

1. Duński, M., & Pękowska, A. (2022). Evolutionary trade-offs between autism, schizophrenia, and human brain evolution. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13, 829. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.00829

2. Esteller-Cucala, P., Maceda, I., Børglum, A. D., Demontis, D., Faraone, S. V., & Cormand, B. (2020). Genomic analysis of natural selection and genetic adaptation in ADHD. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 12919. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-69963-x

3. Pfuhl, G., & Ekblad, L. (2018). Neanderthal genes and neurodiversity: Implications for autism spectrum disorders and ADHD. Frontiers in Psychology, 9, 653. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00653

4. Rantala, M. J., Luoto, S., Krams, I., & Karlsson, H. (2021). Bipolar disorder: An evolutionary psychoneuroimmunological approach. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 122, 28–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.12.026

5. Seitz, R. J. (2022). Beliefs—Neurophysiological underpinnings. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 16, 854865. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2022.854865