Autism & Prediction: Why is this so important?
The developing pediatric brain relies heavily on prediction to make sense of the world. According to theories like those presented in Andy Clark’s The Experience Machine, the brain doesn’t simply react to sensory input; it constantly generates predictions about what will happen next, comparing them to incoming signals. Prediction is something that builds over time, with an infant having a relatively clean predictive ‘slate.’ As the child ages, through the use of observation and repetition, prediction becomes more engaged in how the child responds and reacts to the outside world.
A mismatch between predictions and actual experiences—what’s known as a “prediction error”—can create stress, confusion, or overwhelm. In typically developing children, the nervous system refines its predictions through repeated, accurate feedback, helping them adapt to sensory, social, and motor experiences.
However, in children with Autism, especially those with more severe issues, this predictive network doesn’t form as well. This may occur because some children with Autism are hyper-aware of certain outside stimuli but less aware of their own internal senses (for example, they are very jumpy with low or high pitched noises but cannot tell when they are hungry or tired). This can lead to sensory overload, heightened stress responses, and difficulty adapting to new environments or social cues.
Pediatric chiropractic care, by focusing on optimizing spinal and nervous system function, may support the brain’s ability to process sensory information more efficiently. Gentle adjustments may help reduce “neural noise” and improve the clarity of communication between the body and brain, potentially easing the burden of prediction errors. Enhancing the nervous system’s adaptability may create a more regulated foundation for learning, sensory integration, and resilience in all children but especially in kids on the Autism spectrum. Creating a predictable environment is one way to help work with kids with Autism. Get more information here: https://www.theadjustment.com/. Listen to Dr Rubin discuss prediction on his podcast of the same title, Chirocast Episode 633
References:
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/608016/the-experience-machine-by-andy-clark/
