Sensory processing disorder in the context of Occupational therapy

The neurodiversity paradigm is a framework for understanding human brain function that considers the diversity within sensory processing, motor abilities, social comfort, cognition, and focus as neurobiological differences. This diversity falls on a spectrum of neurocognitive differences. The neurodiversity movement views autism as a natural part of human neurological diversity—not a disease or a disorder, just "a difference".

Neurodivergences include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder (BD), developmental prosopagnosia, developmental speech disorders, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysnomia, intellectual disability, obsessive–compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, sensory processing disorder (SPD), synesthesia, and Tourette syndrome.

Muscimol, also known as agarin, pantherine, or pyroibotenic acid, is a GABA_A receptor agonist with sedative and hallucinogenic effects and the principal psychoactive constituent of Amanita mushrooms such as Amanita muscaria (fly agaric) and Amanita pantherina (panther cap). It is a 3-hydroxyisoxazole alkaloid and is closely related structurally to the neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The compound is widely used as a ligand and agonist of the GABA_A receptor in scientific research. Muscimol is typically taken orally, but may also be smoked. Peak effects occur after 1 to 3 hours orally and its duration is 4 to 8 hours but up to 24 hours.

The effects of muscimol in humans include central depression, sedation, sleep, cognitive and motor impairment, hallucinations, perceptual distortion, and muscle twitching, among others. Muscimol acts as a potent GABA_A receptor full agonist. It is also a potent GABA_A-ρ receptor partial agonist and a weak GABA reuptake inhibitor. The drug is inactive at the GABA_B receptor but is a substrate of GABA transaminase (GABA-T). Muscimol mostly exerts its effects via GABA_A receptor activation. It is very different from drugs like benzodiazepines and barbiturates as it is an orthosteric agonist of the GABA_A receptor rather than an allosteric modulator. Unlike GABA, muscimol crosses the blood–brain barrier and hence is centrally active. Muscimol, which is also known chemically as 5-aminomethylisoxazol-3-ol, is a conformationally restrained analogue of GABA. The related compound and Amanita spp. constituent ibotenic acid is a prodrug of muscimol.