Brent Spiner admitted that Data's character traits in Star Trek resonated deeply with Asperger's patients.
Geordi's Beard + Exocomps Are Alive!
Brent Spiner's Lt. Commander Data is one of the fan favorite characters from Star Trek: The Next Generation. A successor to Leonard Nimoy's iconic Spock, Data was a self-aware android on the show whose ultimate goal was to experience human emotions. While Data's character had many qualities to be a universal favorite, he became a significant figure among people who had Asperger's syndrome or autism.
Data is the ultimate artificial life form with exceptional intelligence, strength and computational skills. But throughout his journey, he tried to feel more human and understand different emotional nuances like his crewmates. Although he was not looked down upon by the other USS Enterprise crew, he had always tried to fit in.
People with Asperger syndrome or autism resonated more with Data's character. They connected deeply with Data's struggle and according to Brent Spiner, he felt very overwhelmed by this side of the fan base.
