What is
Neurodiversity in relation to Giftedness?

"Neurodiversity" means "different brain".

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Giftedness has been seen as a difference in the speed of learning or developing faster than "age peers" for many years.  More recently, research has been discussing how those differences happen within the brains of gifted people. 

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Dr. Nicole Tetreault of the Gifted Research and Outreach group wrote a book called "Insight into a bright mind: A neuroscientist's personal stories of unique thinking" (2020).  In this she summarized a lot of research on the brains of gifted people and said:

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“Their differences encompass brain anatomy, bodily perceiving, sensory processing, levels of intensity, increased sensitivity to bodily sensations, emotional intelligence, and elevated responses to the environment.

They have a unique biology from their brain maps to their genetics to their sensory processing to their emotional processing to their bio rhythms. Every individual navigates in his or her own way. In the human population, there’s a vast array of ways to do that.”

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Dr. Debbie Clelland has given several talks on the subject of one way of understanding giftedness as a form of neurodiversity.  She was also interviewed for an article in a special topic magazine of the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors on Neurodiversity as a "Featured Member" of the Association.

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​Fall 2021 Special edition of the BCACC "Insights" Magazine on Neurodiversity

• Article "The missed neurodiversity: Advocate for recognition and resources for gifted individuals" from interview with Dr. Debbie Clelland p 34-36

• Blog with additional information from this interview

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The Gifted Research and Outreach (GRO) group have several helpful articles about the brain-based differences experienced by gifted folks:

• Article applying understanding of research to fictional child in a classroom setting "The gifted brain"

• Web page with several articles written by the GRO team in collaboration with the Gifted Homeschoolers Forum (GHF) on the "Neuroscience of giftedness: Physiology of the brain"

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Psychologist Dr. Matt Zakreski was interviewed on The Pulse podcast discussing this topic: "Why some researchers are approaching giftedness as a form of neurodivergence - and what it means for 'gifted burnout'."

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Tetreault, N.A. (2020). "Insight into a bright mind: A neuroscientist’s personal stories of unique thinking." Gifted Unlimited LLC

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