Move over elephants! Autistics have a better memory (and here is why)

Results of a recent study has found that in some autistic individuals, synaptic pruning may not be as efficient as in neurotypical people. This means that they will have more/too many synapses, which affects how they work and behave, and could be a possible cause of autism.

Let’s backtrack a bit: what is synaptic pruning and why is it necessary?

Imagine your brain is like a giant garden filled with millions of branches and connections—these connections are called synapses, and they help your brain cells talk to each other.

When you’re a baby and young child, your brain grows a huge number of these connections—more than you’ll actually need. It does this to give you the flexibility to learn everything from language to movement to emotions.

But as you grow up, your brain starts to trim away the extra connections that you don’t use very much. This process is called synaptic pruning—kind of like gardening your brain.

You can also see it as a cleaning and organizing process.

It helps by:

• Removing weak or unused connections
• Strengthening the important ones
• Making the brain faster and more efficient
• Helping you focus on what matters most

So instead of having a messy, overgrown jungle of connections, you end up with a well-organized network that works really well for your specific life and learning.

What did the study discover exactly?

In this study, scientists looked at mice that were genetically modified to act in ways similar to autistic humans. These mice were used to help researchers understand how the autistic brain might develop differently.

They focused on a special type of brain cell called microglia. You can think of microglia as the brain’s “clean-up crew.” One of their most important jobs is helping the brain get rid of extra or weak connections between brain cells—this process is called synaptic pruning.

But in the mice with autism-like traits, the microglia weren’t doing their job properly. They didn’t clear out the unused or unhelpful connections. So, instead of trimming the brain’s wiring down to a more efficient and focused setup, these mice ended up with too many synapses—like a messy, tangled web of connections.

Because of this, their brains:

• Had a harder time processing information smoothly
• Became overwhelmed more easily
• Showed differences in behaviour, including social interaction and sensory response—things often seen in people with autism

So in simple terms, the clean-up crew wasn’t working right, and that left the brain with too much clutter, which seemed to affect how it worked and how the mice behaved.

How can too many synapses affect your behaviour and how you act?      

Imagine your brain is a city full of roads (synapses). Growing up your brain will make some roads highways, while removing some of the side streets to make space for this highway. But, when this city has too many roads, with added highways as well, this can lead to “congestions” and actually cause problems.

Problems could be:

1. Information Overload
   With too many connections, the brain might try to process everything at once. That can make sounds seem louder, lights feel brighter, or small details seem huge. This is one reason why some autistic people feel overwhelmed by everyday environments.
2. Slower Processing or Confusion
   Just like a tangled web of roads slows down traffic, too many brain connections can make it harder to focus or respond clearly. You may notice hesitation, anxiety, or slower decision-making.
3. Struggles with Filtering
   Most people’s brains filter out unimportant information automatically—like ignoring background noise. But if you have too many active synapses, it’s harder to tune out distractions. This can make tasks like reading, listening, or concentrating on one thing much more difficult.
4. Unusual Reactions or Behaviour
   When the brain is flooded with input, it may react in big ways—like covering ears, avoiding touch, or needing to retreat from busy places. These behaviours aren’t “bad”—they’re the brain’s way of coping with overload.

This can lead to:

• Increased detail-focused thinking
• Greater storage of information, including things others forget
• Sensory overload, because the brain is processing more signals at once
• Stronger memory for facts, routines, and sensory experiences

Why does this matter?

Understanding that having too many synapses in the brain can contribute to sensory overwhelm, difficulty focusing, or unexpected emotional reactions changes the way we view behaviour—especially in autistic individuals or those with sensory processing differences.

Instead of assuming someone is being difficult, rude, or inattentive, we can recognise that their brain is simply processing more than ours might in the same moment. For example, what feels like a “small” noise to you may feel unbearably loud to them. What looks like daydreaming or zoning out may actually be their brain trying to sift through too much incoming information. And what may come across as resistance or withdrawal could just be a need to protect themselves from overload.

When we understand this, we’re better able to support neurodivergent people with empathy and intention. We stop interpreting behaviours as disobedience or laziness, and instead start asking, “What is this person experiencing? What do they need in this moment?”

This understanding also helps us build calmer, more inclusive environments—whether in classrooms, therapy spaces, or workplaces. That might mean adjusting lighting, offering quiet spaces, reducing background noise, or allowing movement breaks. These aren’t “special treatment”—they’re ways of removing barriers so someone’s brain can function at its best.

Having more synapses isn’t a flaw or a malfunction. It’s simply a different way of being wired—one that brings both strengths and challenges. But for people with this kind of brain wiring to thrive, they need environments and relationships that help them manage the extra input, rather than expecting them to cope on their own.

When we shift our understanding, we don’t just accommodate—we empower.