No one has any idea what causes sterotypies to happen, but there are a few leading theories:
1) It could be related to a neurotransmitter deficiency or excess. This is supported by the facts that sterotypy can be drug induced (This is called punding, and happens when a person has too much dopamine), and that it has been linked to a GABA deficiency in the brain(GABA has the opposite effects to dopamine, calming down the brain instead of ramping it up. This would kind of explain it’s high comorbidity to anxiety, if the brain can't calm down). 2) It may be “stimming”, something to even out sensory input (too much, or too little). This theory is supported by its high comorbidity to sensory issues (blindness, ADHD, autism, SPD, etc.), and because it arousees a person’s cardiovascular system (increasing heart rate, increasing blood flow to brain, etc). 3) It may be hereditary. |