Neurotypes

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Groups of people whose cognitive and behavioral patterns fall within what is considered typical ; individuals whose brain development or processing differs from the majority, such as those who are autistic or have ADHD
2. Categories describing people with ordinary neurological functioning ; categories describing people whose minds work in atypical ways, including autistic and ADHD individuals
3. Kinds of brain function that are considered standard in society ; kinds of neurological profile that diverge from the norm, as seen in autism or attention deficit disorders

Etymology: "Neurotypes" is the plural of "neurotype," a noun meaning a typical arrangement of brain wiring. The term is built from the combining form "neuro-," from Greek "neuron" meaning "sinew, nerve," and "type," from Greek "tupos" meaning "impression, blow, mark." Put together, the parts suggest a pattern pressed into the nervous system, much as a stamp leaves its mark on wax. Because the word is a plain compound of two familiar elements, its history is straightforward. Its meaning rests on the sense of "type" as a class or model: a neurotype is one kind of neural wiring among many. The plural simply counts several such patterns, for example when describing the range of human minds.