Monotropism
Theory of autistic attention as narrow, intense focus creating 'attention tunnels.' Explains flow states, sensory overload, and special interests.
Monotropism describes the autistic tendency to focus attention intensely on a small number of interests or tasks at once—creating deep "attention tunnels" rather than broad, diffuse awareness. When you're in the tunnel, everything else disappears: time, hunger, social cues, even your own name being called.
It's not a deficit of attention. It's a different distribution: all your attention budget goes to one thing, leaving nothing for background monitoring. This explains why interruptions feel violent, why transitions are exhausting, and why your "special interest" isn't just a hobby—it's where your entire nervous system lives.