The “Connectivome Theory”: Psyche, Soma and the Systemic Involvement of Connective Tissue in Neurodivergence

The connective tissue could be considered a fractal structure acting as a “trait d'union” between all body areas. Depending on the anatomical site involved, the connective tissue is configured as either dense, loose, or fluid, each attributed with specific functions: not only support and connection but also coordination and synchronization of all the systems that comprise the human body. In body sites where connective tissue plays a salient function, a greater co-occurrence of multiple and multi-level somatic alterations of varying severity may be found. These alterations could be explained by different causal factors, both genetic and environmental. In the context of neurodevelopmental disorders and especially autism spectrum disorders, alterations of the connective tissue encompass every aspect that is ascribable to the psychic and somatic spheres. Clinical pictures with greater somatic impairment, with greater psychic impairment, or pictures that equally present somatic and psychic alterations may be observed.

With this in mind, the goal of the Research Topic is to provide a possible perspective/interpretation of how these systems are interconnected with each other while treating them separately. Through the articles presented, we aim to highlight how the symptomatology of neurodevelopmental disorders is heterogeneous depending on the complexity of the system and also how the connective tissue is involved in this complexity.

We wish to explore clinical expressions of altered connective tissue in autism spectrum disorders (and also ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome) by taking into examination specific anatomical sites in which the connective tissue is most represented, pertaining to the following research branches:

• Immunology/Rheumatology
• Pneumology
• Urology
• Physical and Musculoskeletal medicine
• Dermatology
• Dentistry
• Ophthalmology
• Gastroenterology
• Otolaryngology

We encourage contributors to submit a range of articles including but not limited to: Original research articles, Reviews, Systematic reviews, Mini-reviews, Methods, Hypotheses and theory, Perspectives, Clinical trials and Opinions that contribute to research on the Connectivome Theory.