Neurotransception Research
Neurotransception goes beyond interoception (Mahler 2016), where a person is trying to interpret their internal world, exteroception, where a person is trying to make sense of the world around them, and neuroception (Porges, 2004), where individual neural circuitry assesses the safety of individuals and situations. Vermeulen (2012) provided a functional definition of autistic experience as trying to make sense of a world that is chaotic and confusing.
Transcending all these concepts is a new conceptual framework derived from theorisation (Jabareen, 2009), which I have defined as neurotransception. Neurotransception involves the transmission and reception of neurobiological signals that could be consciously or unconsciously occurring between individuals which are used to sense the safety of being in the space with other as part of the social hierarchy relationship within that group or interaction. When divergent intersubjectivities from different neurotypes meet, imposed power dynamics from conscious/unconscious levels may evolve based on the non-autistic other’s intrasubjective misinterpretations to reconfigure their prediction error in predictive coding theory (Friston, 2010). This may manifest as an attempt to fix rather than relate to an autistic individual and other forms of neurodivergent ways of being, resulting in exacerbated experiences of masking, shaming, as well as trauma-informed, and attachment-based reactive responses.
The research findings from a doctoral piece of research suggest underlying relational dynamics occurring throughout the autistic individual’s lifespan, which may have impacted their mental health experiences that have been misrepresented as part of autistic experience. This has implications for researching misrepresented individuals, exploring a longer conversation around diagnosis at a relational level, and developing more relational therapeutic approaches to neutralise neurotransception.
Watch this space for how we can apply the principles behind neurotransception in working at a relational level in making connection with those who are misinterpreted and feel very disconnected from society, whether this if from a neurodivergent way of being or potentially can be explored in the context of other groups that feel marginalised within society.
Neurotransception Therapy
This is a new innovative therapeutic modality that has been developed from the findings of Dr. Raymi Doyle’s doctoral research and further refined through collaborative work with neurodivergent individuals, as well as embedded within therapeutic and neuroscientific research. It has the capacity to be a standalone therapy as well as be integrated within therapeutic processes.
The therapeutic process under discussion is centred on the principles of neurotransception, and the exploration of intermittent and interrupted bi-directional signaling at both a conscious and unconscious level.
The therapeutic process is often about exploring the signals we send to each other, and how we understand those signals, both in our heads, in our bodies and in our relationships. These can be smiles, eye gazing, a sense of sensing the other, but may also be more subtle and unconscious, and while experienced may not be something we are consciously aware of. These intrasubjective interpretations of this signaling that is occurring at both conscious and unconscious levels, can influence how we experience a sense of relational safety as neuroception (Porgas, 2004; Doyle 2023), how we perceive ourselves as in interoception (Mahler, 2016), how we contextualise our experience (Vermuelen, 2012) and our personal journey of self-hood (Doyle, 2023).
This neurotransceptive therapeutic approach looks at how different neurotypes can create different power struggles and social dynamics between them, by exploring intersubjective divergence. It also looks at how these dynamics can be explained by the idea of predictive coding theory (Friston, 2010) and how social hierarchies (Doyle, 2023; 2025) can form both to inform these dynamics as well as a reactive response to them. These are interpreted as internal and external reactive positions in the conceptual framework known as neurotransception. This, in turn, can impact the homeostasis within and the allostasis between the individual and their experiences of other/environment. This may ultimately engender a new sense of purpose and/or empower clients to redirect their attentional focus, where they may previously have felt caught in a disruptive track.
The present therapy is currently available in two forms solely by Dr. Raymi Doyle. Firstly, as individual therapy, which can be integrated with a range of other therapies. Secondly, both integrated and as a standalone couples therapy, the latter of which is currently being developed.
This therapeutic approach has been specifically designed to address the experiences of neurodivergent individuals within relational dynamics. It is acknowledged that neurodivergent individuals may experience a variety of phenomena, including traumatisation, othering, shaming, imposed power dynamics, as well as a range of internal experiences tailored to engaging within relational dynamics. Furthermore, the necessity to mask and/or camouflage arises in order to ensure their own protection. In view of the manner in which this therapeutic process has been developed, it can also be applied to individuals who often feel marginalised, misrepresented and misunderstood within other relational and/or abusive power dynamics.
The present therapy is currently available in two forms solely by Dr. Raymi Doyle. Firstly, as individual therapy, which can be integrated with a range of other therapies. Secondly, both integrated and as a standalone couples therapy, the latter of which is currently being developed.
To get access to experiencing this Neurotransceptive therapy modality as a client by Dr. Raymi Doyle, or to find out more on Neurotransception, you can contact him here.
