Changes in Big-5 during Pandemic

I always think of the exponential effects on autistics. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/pandemic-altered-personalities-more-neurotic-less-agreeable-rcna49595

"NBC News reported on a study published in PLOS ONE that indicated that personality changes from January 2021 to February 2022 were roughly equal to what’s normally a decade’s worth of incremental personality changes. Although people often become less neurotic, extroverted, and open as they age, adults under 30 saw a significant increase in neuroticism over the study period. Neuroticism “is a very consistent predictor of mental health outcomes like depression and anxiety,” said the study’s lead author, Angelina Sutin, PhD, a personality psychologist at the Florida State University College of Medicine."
(https://view.info.apa.org/?qs=ab2c9530baf7a6ce1051f3f9254b1595fbcf171f4a81ad3eed135b5a5f2cec4508d1f4b727d406c0bea89be99e8df4a9ad7fee31eba4572980be2e27faddf3b287ffdd23c1cb6fc2f324d4ab0e197f72)

Friendships in Autism Adulthood.

"In 1990, only 3 percent of Americans said they had no close friends; in 2021, nearly 12 percent said the same. The United States is in the grips of a loneliness crisis that predates the Covid pandemic."
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/01/well/live/how-to-make-friends-adult.html

 If this is state for NTs, imagine the situation for autistics who generally have little - no friends  through childhood.

However, some of the suggested ways to making friends is hardly the easiest for autistics either -  "You really have to try and put yourself out there."

So it's a continued conundrum.

245 years to get to Indigenous Peoples' Day

It just took 245 years to recognize Indigenous Peoples' Day as a National Holiday in 2021. 

Till I came to Berkeley, I had not been aware that a simple start (though by no means enough) was land acknowledgment, which I saw at many events; recognition that UC Berkeley sits on the territory of xučyun (Huichin), the ancestral and unceded land of the Chochenyo speaking Ohlone people.

Reflecting below on an assignment done on Zitkala-Sa for American Literature back in Grade 10 and an essay on Black Elk Speaks for my American Indian Ethnic Studies course a few years back.

And if I may add a disability angle here, I can so relate to this line from my assignment "every time she goes to a new place it would be like starting over with the new set of audience. She would have to prove herself over and over again." With disability, especialy if you are seen as "more disabled" you have to prove yourself over and over and over with every new audience and even to the same audience to prove that somehow you have not regressed. 

You have to think about the terrific power play at work here (sarcasm intended) - the dominant party strips away the very identity and resources of non-dominant party (identity and resources which gives them confidence and which makes them strong), so the latter will stay second class and subservient in the former's socio-economic structure. 

I'm always felt very sad when studying history as it seems to be a series of such power plays, one group suppressing another. This has been the history of colonialism and occupation the world over. The first thing the invader does is to destroy the structure of the old culture, then replace it with the own religious structures and values, till the old culture becomes one of shame for its practitioners. After a few generations all knowledge of the old culture is lost to human memory. 

==============

School Days of An Indian Girl by Zitkala-Sa - Example of Realism
(Grade 10 assignment)

Zitkala-Sa’s recollection is a poignant account of the conflict and clash between two cultures and the frustration of ending up in a no-man’s land. She is a young Indian girl who is taken away to be assimilated into the white society; by teaching her the mannerisms and customs of the white race. The problem with assimilation seems to be an all-or-nothing attitude by the teachers. She is forced to forsake her own native customs and language (including cutting her hair) and then told to go live on the reservation. So she can never be fully Indian. Even her own mother is not able to relate to her and vice versa. Yet the color of her skin will always make her a second class citizen in the white community. She will never get full acceptance there either. She may have won the speaking contest, yet every time she goes to a new place it would be like starting over with the new set of audience. She would have to prove herself over and over again. The reader is profoundly affected by the stark realism and detail of her experiences in her narrative. The reader journeys with her on her loss of innocence - “ we had been very impatient to start our journey...” (207) to a dissatisfied state of bewilderment - “The little taste of victory in my heart, did not satisfy a hunger in my heart.”(221).

The story has all the elements of realism. It is devoid of emotionalism or melodrama. The events are presented in a very matter of fact way. “Their mothers, instead of reproving them such rude curiosity, looked closely at me, and attracted their children’s attention further to my blanket.”(208). At each stage there is another grim reality to be faced. There are outside forces (the assimilation process) and events that affect that affect her at every turn.

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South Hall

I heard it was like the only campus building (or one of the few buildings) to survive the 1906 SF quake. 

I'm passed this building countless times and even gone inside, but never had a class inside.

 

National Disability Employment Awareness Month

 First DSP (Disabled Students Program) in the country started by Ed Roberts. 

ADA 32 at the White House

Me shaking hands with the President

It's an honor to get invited to the White House and get to shake hands with the President of the United States, more so for 32nd anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

I am of the post-ADA generation, born after ADA was passed in 1990. Undoubtedly, it is laws like ADA that the allow the doors of opportunity to open to the possibility of me, and in President's Biden's words, "to work, to study, to make connections."  

It is a reason I can, with some measure of confidence, say - So what if I am significantly disabled, I too can pursue a PhD. I too can aspire to higher education, to employment (that's next), to inclusion, and aspire to go toe to toe with my non disabled peers. Perchance, I too can change the world. 

It is because of laws like ADA that Lady Liberty turns her torch towards folks like me, so we too get the opportunity to pursue our version of the American Dream.

I am extremely grateful and in deep admiration of all stalwarts who laid groundwork that folks in my generation and beyond can now build on. In her speech, First Lady, Dr Jill Biden, spoke of 8 year old Jennifer Keelan who cast aside her wheelchair and crawled up the steps of the Capitol Hill in March 1990; "acts of protest," (widely televised) which spurred the signing of the law in July 1990. The then Senator Joe Biden has been a co-sponsor of the bill, sponsored by Sen Harkin and signed into law by President George HW Bush.

Thank you, thank you, to all those tireless stalwarts, (including living legends like my hero, Judy Heumann), in Dr Biden's words, for "refusing to be silent about indignities... faced" and for "holding on to the hope of a better way."

Thank you Mr President for acknowledging this momentous occasion for all of us disabled folks and being part if its journey right from inception. 

In his speech at the Rose Garden of the White House, President Biden referred to the ADA as "one of the most important civil rights laws ever," as he recalled the words of Justin Dart Jr. (regarded as the godfather of ADA) - "ADA is only the beginning, its not the solution, Its the center foundation on which solutions will be constructed." 

Indeed, ADA is a starting point that was crafted 32 years ago and it is up to our generation to continually shape it to meet the changing needs of today and tomorrow. 

I feel, the fact of ADA being a work in progress needs to be highlighted, as it seems especially relevant to the wide diversity in autism, which means building in flexibility and open-mindedness, as there is not going to be a clear one-solution-fits-all. 

“For our country, the ADA is a testament to the character of our people, to the country... It’s proof we can work together and keep moving closer to realizing the promise of America for all Americans,” Biden said.

(President's full remarks, fact sheet)  

We have to continue to look for solutions and workarounds on many many fronts; this is a humankind issue. There is a reason for the word "kind" in the word humankind; "kind-ness" is a fundamental but oft forgotten character trait of people, that has carried us through the troubling periods of human history from time immemorial. 

I want to believe Charles Darwin’s take on the human species as one of “survival of the kindest,” and not just “survival of the fittest.” I want to believe our human society has great capacity for goodness and compassion for all its members.

My generation has to carry this torch forward and demand not just a seat at the table of solutions, but perhaps redefine the table itself, and not just in this country but worldwide for humankind. 

Blind jazz pianist, Jose Andre Montano, prior to his mesmerizing performance that day, gave some very good and practical advice which was very relevant to our mental health - "life is more wonderful if you love your differences and you love who you are... [otherwise] life would not make sense." We often forget the toll of mental health that accompanies the fact of disability as we are constantly in this race to catch up or meet the ever moving target of what society considers acceptable.

On a personal note, too thrilling to get invited to the White House and get to shake hands with the President. The White House is truly magnificent both inside and out. And to be where such laws were signed.... In total awe.

Cal 1973

What a contrast to the developed and bustling Cal campus of today. 

https://twitter.com/CalBearsHistory

 

Violators Toad

Interesting word play at yesterday's Nelson Andrews Leadership retreat site for the Vanderbilt Neuroscience Retreat. 

Have to wonder what the toads (Bufonidae) there think?

Violators, a new species of toad?

A wider picture

Along with the science talks, there was also an Unconscious Bias workshop at yesterday's Vanderbilt Brain Institute retreat

Paying attention - Very applicable for the highly distracted ADHD person like me, with a thousand thoughts running through my head. 

Rest of message very relevant too, for all.  "notice the patterns and treatments of experiences of members of both privileged and marginalized groups"

I was also very appreciative that there was mention of (dis)ability as an identity and often overlooked as a marginalized group along with race/ethnicity etc. It is good to hear such conversations at Vanderbilt. 

I think back to what Arlene Mayerson of DREDF had once said at my Autism Class at UC Berkeley - Civil rights for Disability mean that you not just take away the sign so you can sit anywhere on the bus,  but also giving the disabled person a way to get on the bus in the first place.  

This is really the bigger/wider view for Disability Inclusion. It's not just about allowing disabled people to occupy the same space but also about the accommodations (to get on the bus), supports (to stay seated on the bus) and making disabled people feel they belong, a sense of community, so that they can SUCCEED in that environment. 

 @VanderbiltU #VanderbiltBrainInstitute

Image Description. Text on large screen reads, PAN. Pay Attention Now. Just as a movie camera pans the environment to see the whole picture, we need to continuously pan all around us as we increase our ability to notice the patterns and treatments of experiences of members of  both privileged and marginalized groups. Awareness. While this was at a Neuroscience retreat, this so applies to disability. 

Neuroscience Retreat

Vanderbilt Neuroscience Graduate Program retreat. 

Day started with Hippocampal Place Cells and included a walk by Percy Priest Lake

Autistic Mice

What is a Mouse Model 

The goal of developing mouse models of autism is to gain a better understanding of its genetic and neurobiological basis, and to identify potential targets for therapeutic interventions.

Mouse models of autism are developed using a variety of genetic engineering techniques; the goal of these modifications is to mimic the genetic alterations that have been associated with human autism, and to study the resulting effects on behavior, brain function, and development.

• Knockout mice: insertion of specific gene or gene sequences eg: mouse that expresses a mutated version of the gene that causes alterations in protein function.
• Knock-in mice: insertion of gene eg: mouse lacks particular gene that has been linked to human autism,.
• Viral-vectors:  introduce specific genetic modifications into the mouse brain. This allows researchers to study the effects of altering gene expression or protein function in specific brain regions or cell types.

Once the mouse model has been developed, researchers can use a variety of behavioral, physiological, and molecular techniques to study the effects of the genetic modifications on brain function and behavior. This might involve measuring social behavior, communication, repetitive behaviors, or other autism-like symptoms in the mice, as well as examining brain structure, gene expression, or neurotransmitter function.

Some examples of autism mouse models:

• BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J mice: These mice exhibit several behaviors seen in human autism, including repetitive behaviors, social deficits, and decreased communication.
• Engrailed-2 (En2) knockout mice: The En2 gene has been linked to autism in some studies. They exhibit reduced social behavior, increased repetitive behaviors, and atypical brain development.
• Neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) knockout mice: The NLGN3 gene, which has been associated with human autism. They exhibit deficits in social behavior and communication, as well as increased repetitive behaviors.
• Fragile X 1 (Fmr1) knockout mice:  Fmr1 gene is associated with fragile X syndrome, a genetic condition that may co-occur with autism. They exhibit deficits in social behavior, communication, and learning.
• Shank3 knockout mice: The Shank3 gene has been implicated in autism development. They exhibit deficits in social behavior, communication, and synaptic function.
• 16p11.2 deletion mouse model: This model is designed to mimic the human 16p11.2 microdeletion, a genetic variation that has been associated with a range of neurodevelopmental disabilites including autism. Mice with this deletion exhibit several autism-like behaviors, including reduced social interaction, repetitive behaviors, and altered vocalizations.
• Tsc2 heterozygous knockout mouse model: Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a genetic condition associated with autism. This mouse model mimics a TSC-related mutation, in which one copy of the Tsc2 gene is deleted. These mice exhibit social deficits, increased repetitive behaviors, and altered brain connectivity.
• Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) R306C knock-in mouse model: Mutations in the MECP2 gene have been linked to Rett syndrome, a genetic condition that shares some features with autism. This mouse model introduces a specific R306C mutation into the MeCP2 gene, leading to deficits in social interaction and communication.
• Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (Cntnap2) knockout mouse model: CNTNAP2 is a gene that has been associated with autism and language challenges. This mouse model lacks the Cntnap2 gene and exhibits social and communication deficits, as well as alterations in brain development and function.
• Oxtr -/- mouse model: Oxytocin is a hormone that plays a key role in social bonding and has been investigated as a potential treatment for autism. This mouse model lacks the gene for the oxytocin receptor and exhibits deficits in social behavior and communication.
• CNTNAP2-deficient mouse model: CNTNAP2 is a gene that has been associated with human autism. Researchers have developed a mouse model in which the Cntnap2 gene is selectively deleted, resulting in autism-like behaviors, such as reduced social interaction, altered communication, and repetitive behaviors.
• En2-deficient mouse model: En2 is a gene that is involved in the development of the cerebellum, a brain region that is known to be involved in motor coordination and cognitive processing. Mutations in the EN2 gene have been linked to human autism. Researchers have developed a mouse model in which the En2 gene is selectively deleted, resulting in autism-like behaviors, such as altered social interaction and communication.

Researchers often use multiple models to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the complex genetics and neurobiology of autism.

A Vandy welcome to Nashville

 

A Vandy welcome to Nashville at the airport. 

A WW2 Veteran at 101

Met a 101 year old World War 2 veteran on the plane from DC to Nashville. 

Thank you and Oh wow. What changes you must have seen.

101 years, a life so long 

Witness to change, a never-ending song. 

From war to peace, and back again

Through trials and triumphs, and joys and pain.

You've seen the world shift, and the people too

From black and white, to a vivid hue

Technology soaring, and time ticking by

And through it all, you've stayed the course, never shy.

Your stories are treasures, a glimpse of the past

A time machine of memories that will forever last

You are a hero, a symbol of resilience and might

A living reminder of a world we can make right.