Rethinking Neurodivergence in Engineering with a Focus on Highly Sensitive Persons

The engineering profession has long acknowledged an unusually high presence of neurodivergent individuals within its ranks. Emerging research now suggests a compelling alternative perspective: what we have typically labeled as neurodivergence may reflect a different neurobiological profile altogether—the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). This shift is far more than semantics. It holds profound implications for how we understand, support, and harness the extraordinary cognitive strengths that shape our engineering talent pool.

The Data Speaks

The numbers are hard to ignore. One study tracked national data revealing that 34.31% of autistic college students chose STEM fields, compared to 22.80% of the general population (Wei et al., 2013). More strikingly, in a study of Cambridge mathematics undergraduates, autism diagnosis rates were nine times higher compared to peers studying other subjects (Baron-Cohen et al., 2007). This isn’t just a coincidence but a direct reflection of the alignment between neurodivergent cognitive profiles and the demands of engineering.

Current surveys show that around 37% of engineering students self-identify as neurodivergent or possibly so, with 19% of practicing engineers in the UK echoing this trend (American Society for Engineering Education, 2023; Institution of Engineering and Technology, 2022). Experts emphasize that these numbers likely underestimate the true prevalence, hindered by diagnostic gaps and cultural stigmas.

Why Engineering Attracts These Minds

Engineering demands a high degree of systemising ability. This is the capacity to analyse rule-based systems, predict outcomes, and engage in logical problem-solving (Baron-Cohen, 2003). Autistic individuals frequently show superior attention to detail, heightened pattern recognition, and reduced susceptibility to cognitive biases that might otherwise cloud judgment (Happé & Frith, 2014). Meanwhile, individuals displaying ADHD traits often demonstrate remarkable divergent thinking, essential for innovative engineering solutions (Taylor et al., 2022). These are not compensatory skills but natural strengths perfectly suited to complex technical tasks.

The HSP Perspective: A Broader View on Cognitive Diversity

But consider this: what if many we think of as neurodivergent are actually Highly Sensitive Persons? HSPs, making up 20-30% of the population, are characterized by heightened sensory processing sensitivity. Unlike disorders or dysfunctions, this trait means deeper cognitive processing, greater awareness of subtle environmental cues, and amplified emotional responsiveness (Aron & Aron, 1997; Morales-Botello et al., 2025).

This enhanced awareness serves as a powerful “radar,” picking up nuances others miss. Large-scale European research confirms this sensitivity is common and significant across diverse demographics (Morales-Botello et al., 2025).

The Science Behind Heightened Processing

At the core of HSP cognition are four key traits identified by brain imaging studies (Acevedo et al., 2012, 2014):

• Inhibition of Behaviour: HSPs tend to pause and reflect before acting, displaying strong self-control and deliberate decision-making. This cautious approach reduces errors and supports complex planning.

• Sensitivity to Stimuli: They detect subtle sensory changes more readily, showing enhanced brain responses when observing minor differences, key for identifying design flaws and quality control.

• Depth of Processing: HSPs think things through extensively, engaging the brain’s executive functions more robustly to coordinate complex problem-solving.

• Emotional Reactivity: Their heightened emotional and physiological responses drive empathy and allow fine-tuned social awareness, facilitating user-centered design and team collaboration.

Why HSPs Excel in Engineering

The enhanced activity in prefrontal brain regions like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex gives HSPs an advantage in executive functions such as working memory, impulse control, and systems thinking (Acevedo et al., 2014, 2017, 2021). This brain architecture supports nuanced analysis and integrated problem solving, core to engineering professions.

Moreover, neuroimaging confirms that HSPs exhibit stronger visual processing and mirror neuron activities which enhance both technical accuracy and interpersonal understanding (Acevedo et al., 2014). Their brain networks create superior internal communication pathways, enabling them to piece together complex information into coherent solutions.

Expanded Insights from Neuroimaging on HSP Brain Functions

Recent neuroimaging studies provide a deeper understanding of HSPs’ unique brain activity patterns that support their cognitive and emotional strengths. Functional MRI scans reveal that HSPs show increased activation not only in sensory processing regions but also in brain areas involved in complex cognitive integration and emotional regulation.

For example, Acevedo et al. (2014) found that HSP brains exhibit elevated activity in:

• The Visual Cortex: Enhancing the ability to detect minute visual details and anomalies, a critical skill for engineers reviewing technical drawings or identifying subtle errors.

• Mirror Neuron Systems: Located in the inferior frontal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule, these systems support empathy and social understanding, crucial for effective teamwork and user-centered design.

• The Anterior Cingulate Cortex: A hub for conflict monitoring and decision-making, helping HSPs weigh multiple factors carefully before responding.

• The Insula: Associated with interoceptive awareness (sensing the internal state of the body) and emotional empathy, enhancing sensitivity to both others’ feelings and internal states.

Additionally, studies show that HSPs experience greater connectivity between the prefrontal cortex and sensory processing areas. This enhanced neural network integration supports their ability to synthesize sensory data with higher-order cognitive processes, fostering advanced systems thinking and nuanced problem-solving (Acevedo et al., 2021).

Electrophysiological research supports these findings by demonstrating that HSPs have stronger beta 2 and gamma brainwave activity during rest states (Kornelsen et al., 2023). These frequency bands are linked to working memory, selective attention, and complex mental operations , all critical for the detailed and sustained focus required in engineering disciplines.

This sophisticated neurological profile allows HSPs not only to process information more thoroughly but also to connect seemingly contrasting ideas and generate innovative solutions. Their brains operate with remarkable precision and coordination, mirroring the complex demands of modern engineering challenges.

Embracing Cognitive Diversity in Engineering

As our understanding of neurobiological differences deepens, the time has come to move beyond narrow diagnostic categories. Whether an engineer is classically neurodivergent or a Highly Sensitive Person, their distinct cognitive profile offers unique gifts crucial to innovation and excellence.

Creating engineering environments that recognize, support, and leverage this broad range of talents is not just beneficial—it’s essential. This inclusivity is a catalyst for creativity, safety, precision, and ultimately, superior engineering outcomes.

Reflecting on Your Own Sensitivity and Potential

If you find yourself drawn to deep analysis, sensitive to sensory overload, or emotionally attuned to your environment, consider that you might be a HSP. Viewing your sensitivity as a cognitive strength can unlock new ways to work more effectively.

Strategies such as managing overstimulation, structuring work to accommodate deep thinking, and using empathetic insight to improve design can elevate both your performance and well-being.

Take a moment now to reflect on what changes you might make to harness this sensitivity, turning it into a professional asset that drives precision, creativity, and resilience.

References

• Acevedo, B. P., Aron, E. N., Aron, A., Sangster, M. D., Collins, N., & Brown, L. L. (2014). The highly sensitive brain: An fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others’ emotions. Brain and Behavior, 4(4), 580–594.

• Acevedo, B. P., Aron, E. N., Pospos, S., & Jessen, D. (2018). The functional highly sensitive brain: A review of the brain circuits underlying sensory processing sensitivity and seemingly related disorders. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 373(1744), 20170161.

• Acevedo, B. P., Jagiellowicz, J., Aron, E., Marhenke, R., & Aron, A. (2017). Sensory processing sensitivity and childhood quality’s effects on neural responses to emotional stimuli. Clinical Neuropsychiatry, 14(6), 359–373.

• Acevedo, B. P., Standish, L. J., Aron, A., & Aron, E. N. (2021). The neural correlates of sensory processing sensitivity in response to positive and negative emotional stimuli. Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, 13(4), 1031–1056.

• American Society for Engineering Education. (2023). Work-in-progress: Neurodivergence and intersecting demographics among engineering students. Proceedings of the American Society for Engineering Education Annual Conference.

• Aron, E. N., & Aron, A. (1997). Sensory-processing sensitivity and its relation to introversion and emotionality. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(2), 345–368.

• Aron, E. N., Aron, A., & Jagiellowicz, J. (2012). Sensory processing sensitivity: A review in the light of the evolution of biological responsivity. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 16(3), 262–282.

• Baron-Cohen, S. (2003). The essential difference: The truth about the male and female brain. Basic Books.

• Baron-Cohen, S., Wheelwright, S., Burtenshaw, A., & Hobson, E. (2007). Mathematical talent is linked to autism. Human Nature, 18(2), 125–131.

• Happé, F., & Frith, U. (2014). The weak coherence account: Detail-focused cognitive style in autism spectrum disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 44(12), 3100–3110.

• Institution of Engineering and Technology. (2022). Neurodiversity in engineering and technology: Full report. IET.

• Jagiellowicz, J., Xu, X., Aron, A., Aron, E., Cao, G., Feng, T., & Weng, X. (2011). The trait of sensory processing sensitivity and neural responses to changes in visual scenes. Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, 6(1), 38–47.

• Kornelsen, J., Wilson, A., Ralston, S. J., Laing, L., Sackville, N. T., Dorman, J. C., … & Vokey, S. (2023). Neurophysiological signatures of sensory-processing sensitivity: A scoping review. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 17, 1200962.

• Morales-Botello, M. L., García-Villamisar, D., García-Martínez, J., & Dattilo, J. (2025). Sociodemographic markers of high sensory processing sensitivity across nine countries in Europe and Asia. Frontiers in Psychology, 16, 1617089.

• Taylor, A. B., Vazquez, A., Ishida, K., Tomaka, J., & Jones, B. D. (2022). The interplay of ADHD characteristics and executive functioning in engineering students. Brain and Behavior, 12(8), e2627.

• Wei, X., Yu, J. W., Shattuck, P., McCracken, M., & Blackorby, J. (2013). Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) participation among college students with an autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(7), 1539–1546.