Waddington’s epigenetic landscape, and being ‘optimally autistic’
by Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson, Chancellor's Fellow, Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh
In 2003, enrolled on a Masters programme in developmental psychopathology (the study of atypical development – i.e. conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and others) I was introduced to Waddington’s epigenetic landscape – shown in this image. For him, the image was about the action of genes on development, but for me and many others the image can instead be used to provide a model for the operation of cognitive and social processes in infancy and childhood. From this perspective, the image illustrates child development as a journey down a gently sloping valley. As you can see, at the start the valley is wide and shallow – children (represented by the ball) are all on the same, broad path. But as they grow older, their exact location on that initial path causes them to follow different channels, to different outcomes. We can imaging one of these channels as representing typical development, and another as representing autistic development. The channels get narrower and deeper. This means that if you want to switch channels you have to change direction to get there, and climb over a big hump, requiring a large outside force (i.e. specialist intervention or education). READ MORE
by Dr. Sue Fletcher-Watson, Chancellor's Fellow, Patrick Wild Centre, University of Edinburgh
In 2003, enrolled on a Masters programme in developmental psychopathology (the study of atypical development – i.e. conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and others) I was introduced to Waddington’s epigenetic landscape – shown in this image. For him, the image was about the action of genes on development, but for me and many others the image can instead be used to provide a model for the operation of cognitive and social processes in infancy and childhood. From this perspective, the image illustrates child development as a journey down a gently sloping valley. As you can see, at the start the valley is wide and shallow – children (represented by the ball) are all on the same, broad path. But as they grow older, their exact location on that initial path causes them to follow different channels, to different outcomes. We can imaging one of these channels as representing typical development, and another as representing autistic development. The channels get narrower and deeper. This means that if you want to switch channels you have to change direction to get there, and climb over a big hump, requiring a large outside force (i.e. specialist intervention or education). READ MORE
Brain connections give clues to sensory problems in autism
by Nicholette Zeliadt
Signals that relay sensations from nerves into the brain are abnormally strong in people with autism. The findings, published 12 March in Brain, may explain why some people with autism are overly sensitive to sensory stimuli such as light, sound and touch1.
In autism research, few findings are as complex as those surrounding brain connectivity, a measure of the synchronization between two brain areas. Many studies suggest that people with autism have unusually weak connections between brain regions, whereas other studies have found evidence for overconnectivity. Most scientists now agree that autism brains are inherently ‘noisy,’ with both overly weak and strong connections in the same brain. READ MORE
by Nicholette Zeliadt
Signals that relay sensations from nerves into the brain are abnormally strong in people with autism. The findings, published 12 March in Brain, may explain why some people with autism are overly sensitive to sensory stimuli such as light, sound and touch1.
In autism research, few findings are as complex as those surrounding brain connectivity, a measure of the synchronization between two brain areas. Many studies suggest that people with autism have unusually weak connections between brain regions, whereas other studies have found evidence for overconnectivity. Most scientists now agree that autism brains are inherently ‘noisy,’ with both overly weak and strong connections in the same brain. READ MORE
Unseen agony: Dismantling autism's house of pain
By Sarah DeWeerdt
As a child, Noah hated when his mother vacuumed the house. “She would put the vacuum on the wood floor, not the carpet,” he remembers. “And that’s really loud, so it would really freak me out.”
Noah, who asked that his last name be withheld, was diagnosed with a mild form of autism called Asperger syndrome as a college student (Asperger syndrome has since been subsumed into the larger category of autism spectrum disorder).
Now in his early 30s, he counsels other men with autism and teaches psychology in Boston. But as a child, he didn’t realize his sensory world was different from other people’s experiences.
“At first I would scream and yell for her to stop, but she had no concept that what she was doing was irritating,” Noah says. “And I had no idea that what I was feeling was not what everyone else felt.” READ MORE
By Sarah DeWeerdt
As a child, Noah hated when his mother vacuumed the house. “She would put the vacuum on the wood floor, not the carpet,” he remembers. “And that’s really loud, so it would really freak me out.”
Noah, who asked that his last name be withheld, was diagnosed with a mild form of autism called Asperger syndrome as a college student (Asperger syndrome has since been subsumed into the larger category of autism spectrum disorder).
Now in his early 30s, he counsels other men with autism and teaches psychology in Boston. But as a child, he didn’t realize his sensory world was different from other people’s experiences.
“At first I would scream and yell for her to stop, but she had no concept that what she was doing was irritating,” Noah says. “And I had no idea that what I was feeling was not what everyone else felt.” READ MORE
The Myth of the Normal Brain: Embracing Neurodiversity
by Thomas Armstrong, PhD - AMA Journal of Ethics
In the basement of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) headquarters in Sevres, France, a suburb of Paris, there lies a piece of metal that has been secured since 1889 in an environmentally controlled chamber under three bell jars. It represents the world standard for the kilogram, and all other kilo measurements around the world must be compared and calibrated to this one prototype. There is no such standard for the human brain. Search as you might, there is no brain that has been pickled in a jar in the basement of the Smithsonian Museum or the National Institute of Health or elsewhere in the world that represents the standard to which all other human brains must be compared. Given that this is the case, how do we decide whether any individual human brain or mind is abnormal or normal? To be sure, psychiatrists have their diagnostic manuals. But when it comes to mental disorders, including autism, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disabilities, and even emotional and behavioral disorders, there appears to be substantial uncertainty concerning when a neurologically based human behavior crosses the critical threshold from normal human variation to pathology.
by Thomas Armstrong, PhD - AMA Journal of Ethics
In the basement of the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) headquarters in Sevres, France, a suburb of Paris, there lies a piece of metal that has been secured since 1889 in an environmentally controlled chamber under three bell jars. It represents the world standard for the kilogram, and all other kilo measurements around the world must be compared and calibrated to this one prototype. There is no such standard for the human brain. Search as you might, there is no brain that has been pickled in a jar in the basement of the Smithsonian Museum or the National Institute of Health or elsewhere in the world that represents the standard to which all other human brains must be compared. Given that this is the case, how do we decide whether any individual human brain or mind is abnormal or normal? To be sure, psychiatrists have their diagnostic manuals. But when it comes to mental disorders, including autism, dyslexia, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disabilities, and even emotional and behavioral disorders, there appears to be substantial uncertainty concerning when a neurologically based human behavior crosses the critical threshold from normal human variation to pathology.
Autistic children at risk of being underestimated: school-based pilot study of a strength-informed assessment.
From National Center for Biotechnology Information
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: An important minority of school-aged autistic children, often characterized as 'nonverbal' or 'minimally verbal,' displays little or no spoken language. These children are at risk of being judged 'low-functioning' or 'untestable' via conventional cognitive testing practices. One neglected avenue for assessing autistic children so situated is to engage current knowledge of autistic cognitive strengths. Our aim was thus to pilot a strength-informed assessment of autistic children whose poor performance on conventional instruments suggests their cognitive potential is very limited. READ MORE
From National Center for Biotechnology Information
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: An important minority of school-aged autistic children, often characterized as 'nonverbal' or 'minimally verbal,' displays little or no spoken language. These children are at risk of being judged 'low-functioning' or 'untestable' via conventional cognitive testing practices. One neglected avenue for assessing autistic children so situated is to engage current knowledge of autistic cognitive strengths. Our aim was thus to pilot a strength-informed assessment of autistic children whose poor performance on conventional instruments suggests their cognitive potential is very limited. READ MORE
The Myth of an Autism Epidemic
By Vincent Iannelli, M.D
We hear stories about the rise in autism and the autism epidemic all of the time.
Every few years, the CDC releases a new report which shows a higher prevalence of autism in the United States... READ MORE
By Vincent Iannelli, M.D
We hear stories about the rise in autism and the autism epidemic all of the time.
Every few years, the CDC releases a new report which shows a higher prevalence of autism in the United States... READ MORE
Fixing Autism Research
by John Elder Robison
Autism researchers have published thousands of papers in recent years. With those numbers, you’d think we’d all be rejoicing over great progress. Yet many people—especially autistic adults—are frustrated by how little benefit has actually materialized. Why?
The simple answer is, we’re studying the wrong things. We’re sinking millions into the search for a “cure,” even though we now know that autism is not a disease but rather a neurological difference, one that cripples some of us while bringing a few others extraordinary gifts. Most of us live with a mix of exceptionality and disability. I know I do. READ MORE
by John Elder Robison
Autism researchers have published thousands of papers in recent years. With those numbers, you’d think we’d all be rejoicing over great progress. Yet many people—especially autistic adults—are frustrated by how little benefit has actually materialized. Why?
The simple answer is, we’re studying the wrong things. We’re sinking millions into the search for a “cure,” even though we now know that autism is not a disease but rather a neurological difference, one that cripples some of us while bringing a few others extraordinary gifts. Most of us live with a mix of exceptionality and disability. I know I do. READ MORE
Thoughts on World Autism Awareness Day
on BCM Momentum, By Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Today is the seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day, a day when organizations committed to autism research, advocacy, or policy promote awareness through events and public discussions.
As both a scientist and a father of four – one of whom is an adult child with autism (as well as other mental and physical disabilities) and a second who is actually doing her Ph.D. on the developmental psychology of autism – I am often asked to speak or provide public comment about the autism spectrum conditions, especially their causes. READ MORE
on BCM Momentum, By Peter Hotez, M.D., Ph.D.
Today is the seventh annual World Autism Awareness Day, a day when organizations committed to autism research, advocacy, or policy promote awareness through events and public discussions.
As both a scientist and a father of four – one of whom is an adult child with autism (as well as other mental and physical disabilities) and a second who is actually doing her Ph.D. on the developmental psychology of autism – I am often asked to speak or provide public comment about the autism spectrum conditions, especially their causes. READ MORE
Study: Eye contact triggers threat signals in autistic children's brains (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
Brain tests at UW-Madison suggest that autistic children shy from eye contact because they perceive even the most familiar face as an uncomfortable threat. The work deepens understanding of an autistic brain's function and may one day inform new treatment approaches and augment how teachers interact with their autistic students. READ MORE
Brain tests at UW-Madison suggest that autistic children shy from eye contact because they perceive even the most familiar face as an uncomfortable threat. The work deepens understanding of an autistic brain's function and may one day inform new treatment approaches and augment how teachers interact with their autistic students. READ MORE
A Cognitive Defense of Stimming (or Why “Quiet Hands” Makes Math Harder)
by Musings of an Aspie
Thanks to Daniel Kahneman’s fascinating book, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” I’ve discovered the concept of ego depletion. Coined by Roy Baumeister, the term ego depletion simply means that we have a limited pool of energy to devote to both self-control and cognitive tasks. If we devote energy to, for example, suppressing temptation, we’ll be less willing to solve a difficult math problem or run an extra lap around the track.
Baumeister did a series of landmark experiments to prove the link between self-control and our willingness to engage in difficult cognitive tasks. He found that people who were asked to resist eating chocolate cookies and candy were quicker to give up on solving challenging puzzles than those who were allowed to indulge in the sweets. What the heck does this have to do with autism, you ask? A lot. READ MORE
by Musings of an Aspie
Thanks to Daniel Kahneman’s fascinating book, “Thinking, Fast and Slow” I’ve discovered the concept of ego depletion. Coined by Roy Baumeister, the term ego depletion simply means that we have a limited pool of energy to devote to both self-control and cognitive tasks. If we devote energy to, for example, suppressing temptation, we’ll be less willing to solve a difficult math problem or run an extra lap around the track.
Baumeister did a series of landmark experiments to prove the link between self-control and our willingness to engage in difficult cognitive tasks. He found that people who were asked to resist eating chocolate cookies and candy were quicker to give up on solving challenging puzzles than those who were allowed to indulge in the sweets. What the heck does this have to do with autism, you ask? A lot. READ MORE
My research I did today on decision making in autism
by Aspergers, through my eyes
Today I participated in a research study based in London. The study had been recommended to me by a friend of mine who had taken part in it a few weeks ago. There are two parts to the study-the first part focuses on whether people with autism have increased auditory perception and on the differences in how autistic people and people who don’t have autism respond to faces. The second part of the study focuses on the perceptual differences in autism and how these affect decision making compared to people without autism. It was a really fascinating day and I was paid for my time and my travel expenses which was a bonus! READ MORE
by Aspergers, through my eyes
Today I participated in a research study based in London. The study had been recommended to me by a friend of mine who had taken part in it a few weeks ago. There are two parts to the study-the first part focuses on whether people with autism have increased auditory perception and on the differences in how autistic people and people who don’t have autism respond to faces. The second part of the study focuses on the perceptual differences in autism and how these affect decision making compared to people without autism. It was a really fascinating day and I was paid for my time and my travel expenses which was a bonus! READ MORE
Contrary to Popular Perception, Autism Rates Haven't Increased
PBS.org
In recent years, autism-spectrum disorders have garnered a lot of attention in the media and in popular culture. Autism, it seems today, is everywhere. It’s not uncommon to know a person with autism or a parent of a child who has autism. So you’d be forgiven if you thought that autism is more prevalent now than it was 20 years ago.
Except you’d be wrong, according to the findings of a new study. READ MORE
PBS.org
In recent years, autism-spectrum disorders have garnered a lot of attention in the media and in popular culture. Autism, it seems today, is everywhere. It’s not uncommon to know a person with autism or a parent of a child who has autism. So you’d be forgiven if you thought that autism is more prevalent now than it was 20 years ago.
Except you’d be wrong, according to the findings of a new study. READ MORE
Autism Prevalence is now at 1 in 50 Children By Emily Willingham
"The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new figures for autism prevalence in the United States. They now give a prevalence of 1 in 50, but this story, like most autism-related stories, goes deeper than the numbers." READ MORE
"The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released new figures for autism prevalence in the United States. They now give a prevalence of 1 in 50, but this story, like most autism-related stories, goes deeper than the numbers." READ MORE
Autism, immunity, inflammation, and the New York Times
The Preamble By Emily Willingham
On Saturday, the New York Times online ran a piece from its Sunday Review Opinion pages entitled, “An immune disorder at the root of autism.” The piece is packed with overstatements and over-interpretations and lacks much-needed modulation and qualification. More than that, it promises a "preventative" for autism that is, pardon me, off the hook(worm).
The author is Moises Velasquez-Manoff, who has a book coming up, An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases. Although I understand that someone who has written a book may well have expertise in a specific subject area, a fund of knowledge does not give them carte blanche to bring their bias without scientific counterpoint to the editorial pages of the New York Times. Velasquez-Manoff's book hits the stands on September 4." READ MORE
The Preamble By Emily Willingham
On Saturday, the New York Times online ran a piece from its Sunday Review Opinion pages entitled, “An immune disorder at the root of autism.” The piece is packed with overstatements and over-interpretations and lacks much-needed modulation and qualification. More than that, it promises a "preventative" for autism that is, pardon me, off the hook(worm).
The author is Moises Velasquez-Manoff, who has a book coming up, An Epidemic of Absence: A New Way of Understanding Allergies and Autoimmune Diseases. Although I understand that someone who has written a book may well have expertise in a specific subject area, a fund of knowledge does not give them carte blanche to bring their bias without scientific counterpoint to the editorial pages of the New York Times. Velasquez-Manoff's book hits the stands on September 4." READ MORE
Autism Spectrum Disorder or Antisocial Personality Disorder?
by Stanton E. Samenow, PhD
"In the aftermath of mass shootings, mental health professionals and the public at large endeavor to understand the personality of the perpetrators. In some instances, commentators, including highly trained professionals, have conjectured that a form of autism played a role. Recently, Elliot Rodgers shot six University of California (Santa Barbara) students and injured thirteen bystanders, then killed himself. Because Mr. Rodgers seemed to have a deficit of understanding of people and lacked a connection to them, he was said to have suffered from “Asperger’s Syndrome.”
I am not commenting here specifically about Mr. Rodgers. However, I would point out that individuals with an antisocial personality disorder also lack a connection to people but this is not due to autism. Aspects of their behavior may superficially resemble autism. For example:" READ MORE
by Stanton E. Samenow, PhD
"In the aftermath of mass shootings, mental health professionals and the public at large endeavor to understand the personality of the perpetrators. In some instances, commentators, including highly trained professionals, have conjectured that a form of autism played a role. Recently, Elliot Rodgers shot six University of California (Santa Barbara) students and injured thirteen bystanders, then killed himself. Because Mr. Rodgers seemed to have a deficit of understanding of people and lacked a connection to them, he was said to have suffered from “Asperger’s Syndrome.”
I am not commenting here specifically about Mr. Rodgers. However, I would point out that individuals with an antisocial personality disorder also lack a connection to people but this is not due to autism. Aspects of their behavior may superficially resemble autism. For example:" READ MORE
Research-Based Approaches to Autistic Ways of Learning
by Karla Mclaren
"...In this phase of my research, I’ve collected some specific suggestions, and I’m looking for input from autistic people (and from parents who have worked with their autistic children in these ways) about these suggestions.
As you may know, most autism research literature focuses on autism as a medical problem, as a deficit, as a lack, and as a loss; however, a small but growing group of researchers are questioning this deficit focus and instead are asking about autism in more humane and creative ways. READ MORE
by Karla Mclaren
"...In this phase of my research, I’ve collected some specific suggestions, and I’m looking for input from autistic people (and from parents who have worked with their autistic children in these ways) about these suggestions.
As you may know, most autism research literature focuses on autism as a medical problem, as a deficit, as a lack, and as a loss; however, a small but growing group of researchers are questioning this deficit focus and instead are asking about autism in more humane and creative ways. READ MORE
The Sexual Politics of Autism
by Virginia Hughes
"Imagine you walked down the street and asked random people what autism is. What would they say? My guess: They’d talk about social skills, and the rising prevalence, and probably the vaccine nonsense. And they’d almost certainly mention that it happens to boys...." READ MORE
by Virginia Hughes
"Imagine you walked down the street and asked random people what autism is. What would they say? My guess: They’d talk about social skills, and the rising prevalence, and probably the vaccine nonsense. And they’d almost certainly mention that it happens to boys...." READ MORE
Study finds evidence of gender bias toward diagnosing boys with autism
Science Daily (University of Exeter Study)
Boys were more likely to receive a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) than girls, even when symptoms were equally severe, according to researchers at the universities of Exeter and Bristol.
"We wanted to find out what distinguishes those children without diagnosis but with autistic traits from those who have received a formal ASD diagnosis in the clinic," explained lead researcher Ginny Russell, from Egenis at the University of Exeter. "We thought that there may be social and demographic factors that explain why some children are diagnosed and others are not. Understanding social factors that act as access barriers may provide useful insights for clinicians in practice." READ MORE
Science Daily (University of Exeter Study)
Boys were more likely to receive a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) than girls, even when symptoms were equally severe, according to researchers at the universities of Exeter and Bristol.
"We wanted to find out what distinguishes those children without diagnosis but with autistic traits from those who have received a formal ASD diagnosis in the clinic," explained lead researcher Ginny Russell, from Egenis at the University of Exeter. "We thought that there may be social and demographic factors that explain why some children are diagnosed and others are not. Understanding social factors that act as access barriers may provide useful insights for clinicians in practice." READ MORE
Response to "The Kids Who Beat Autism" article by Steven Kapp (facebook)
So...I wrote a response to "The Kids Who Beat Autism" piece. As someone who critically taught that topic for my autism and neurodiversity class the day it was published, and then saw a related statement I wrote for ASAN (plus Ari Ne'eman wrote the most popularly shared part, the paragraph without citations) shared widely later that day, I mulled over how much more attention to give it. I decided to write an updated response that incorporated Lord's critiques of Fein, my critiques of Lord, and my critiques of the new piece for my students. I sat on that for days but I've decided to share it here now too.
The article abandons pretenses of objective journalism in its headlining confidence that some autistic children“beat” autism. It makes such proclamations despite admissions that the two separate research studies led by Deborah Fein and Catherine Lord that form the basis of this article do not determine what the apparent behavioral change means and that no one knows how to predict “outcomes” of autistic individuals(p. 6 of article’s printable version). It also has a biased concept of autism.It discounts the possibility that strengths of individuals who supposedly“beat” autism, such as in robotics and computer programming, may be related to autism (pp. 6, 8). It discounts that continued, if not additional, disabilities in such individuals, such as ADHD and social anxiety (p. 16), are often associated with autism and may be related to how their autism manifests at this stage in their lives. READ MORE
So...I wrote a response to "The Kids Who Beat Autism" piece. As someone who critically taught that topic for my autism and neurodiversity class the day it was published, and then saw a related statement I wrote for ASAN (plus Ari Ne'eman wrote the most popularly shared part, the paragraph without citations) shared widely later that day, I mulled over how much more attention to give it. I decided to write an updated response that incorporated Lord's critiques of Fein, my critiques of Lord, and my critiques of the new piece for my students. I sat on that for days but I've decided to share it here now too.
The article abandons pretenses of objective journalism in its headlining confidence that some autistic children“beat” autism. It makes such proclamations despite admissions that the two separate research studies led by Deborah Fein and Catherine Lord that form the basis of this article do not determine what the apparent behavioral change means and that no one knows how to predict “outcomes” of autistic individuals(p. 6 of article’s printable version). It also has a biased concept of autism.It discounts the possibility that strengths of individuals who supposedly“beat” autism, such as in robotics and computer programming, may be related to autism (pp. 6, 8). It discounts that continued, if not additional, disabilities in such individuals, such as ADHD and social anxiety (p. 16), are often associated with autism and may be related to how their autism manifests at this stage in their lives. READ MORE
We might have autism backwards: What “broken mirror” and “broken mentalizing” theories could have wrong
by Gregory Hickock
"Autism spectrum disorders are complex and highly variable with a poorly understood cause. There is a very large literature and much debate on possible genetic and environmental causes and an equally large literature attempting to sharpen the diagnosis, identify diagnostic markers, differentiate subtypes of the spectrum, and characterize the source of the variability among affected individuals. Many questions remain unanswered. What causes autism? Why is the incidence increasing? Is it one or many disorders? Why are males more likely to be affected? Are there effective treatments? One could write an entire book on the ins and outs of autism and indeed several such books already exist.
Here my focus is more circumscribed. I restrict the discussion to the behavioral symptoms of autism and (neuro)cognitive models for explaining those symptoms. I highlight two of the most influential hypotheses, the broken mirror theory and the broken mentalizing theory (or broken theory of mind theory—I use the terms interchangeably). Further, I have no intention of providing a thorough review of the host of experiments that have investigated the range of abilities and disabilities in autism or even provide much depth in my discussion of the cognitive theories themselves. Please consult any of the many primary sources for a broader view." READ MORE
by Gregory Hickock
"Autism spectrum disorders are complex and highly variable with a poorly understood cause. There is a very large literature and much debate on possible genetic and environmental causes and an equally large literature attempting to sharpen the diagnosis, identify diagnostic markers, differentiate subtypes of the spectrum, and characterize the source of the variability among affected individuals. Many questions remain unanswered. What causes autism? Why is the incidence increasing? Is it one or many disorders? Why are males more likely to be affected? Are there effective treatments? One could write an entire book on the ins and outs of autism and indeed several such books already exist.
Here my focus is more circumscribed. I restrict the discussion to the behavioral symptoms of autism and (neuro)cognitive models for explaining those symptoms. I highlight two of the most influential hypotheses, the broken mirror theory and the broken mentalizing theory (or broken theory of mind theory—I use the terms interchangeably). Further, I have no intention of providing a thorough review of the host of experiments that have investigated the range of abilities and disabilities in autism or even provide much depth in my discussion of the cognitive theories themselves. Please consult any of the many primary sources for a broader view." READ MORE
Awesome Autism Research - it exists
by Lemon Peel
I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and now seemed like a good time for me to channel my energy into a constructive outlet such as thissssss. Because like…You guys. Most of the time autism science is “autism” “science” and it’s pathetic, but sometimes autism science is AUTISM SCIENCE and it’s faaaabulous.
FIRST: Laurent Mottron, Michelle Dawson and Co.
I will openly admit to being obsessed with their friggen’ lab and all the friggen’ research they do ever. I have an entire file compiled of great research they’ve done recently here, but I wanted to directly link to a couple of my favorites:
“Veridical mapping in the development of exceptional autistic abilities” READ MORE
by Lemon Peel
I’ve been wanting to do this for a while and now seemed like a good time for me to channel my energy into a constructive outlet such as thissssss. Because like…You guys. Most of the time autism science is “autism” “science” and it’s pathetic, but sometimes autism science is AUTISM SCIENCE and it’s faaaabulous.
FIRST: Laurent Mottron, Michelle Dawson and Co.
I will openly admit to being obsessed with their friggen’ lab and all the friggen’ research they do ever. I have an entire file compiled of great research they’ve done recently here, but I wanted to directly link to a couple of my favorites:
“Veridical mapping in the development of exceptional autistic abilities” READ MORE
