Neurotransmitters go Knock Knock

Knock knock. Who's there? 

Glutamate. Glutamate who? Glutamate to meet you!

GABA. GABA who? GABA nice day today, isn't it?

Dopamine. Dopamine who? Do-pa-mine if I tell you a joke?

Serotonin. Serotonin who? Serotoninly you didn't forget about me!

Empathy is a powerful tool that allows us to connect with others on a deeper level

Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society. 

 

Judy, My Friend: A Tribute to an Unparalleled Disability Rights Legend

Judy, My Friend: A Tribute to a Disability Rights Legend

Judy my friend, I miss you dearly

But your legacy lives on, ever so clearly

As a trailblazer, a hero, a friend

Your spirit will never, ever end

ABAS - Adaptive Behavior Assessment System

Lexicon [Measures] - ABAS

 The ABAS-3 (Adaptive Behavior Assessment System, Third Edition) is a  measure of adaptive behavior in individuals from birth to adulthood across multiple domains. It is a widely used measure in autism. 

The ABAS-3 measures various areas of adaptive behavior, including communication, daily living skills, socialization, and motor skills. It consists of both a rating scale completed by caregivers and a performance-based assessment completed by the individual. The rating scale gathers information about the individual's behavior and skills from different informants, such as parents, teachers, or caregivers. The performance-based assessment directly observes the individual's abilities in various adaptive domains.

Scoring and interpretation of the ABAS-3 involve comparing an individual's scores to established norms for their age group. The assessment generates standard scores, percentile ranks, and adaptive levels to provide an understanding of an individual's adaptive functioning relative to their peers. Higher scores indicate stronger adaptive skills in the assessed domains.

Limitations w.r.t Autism

• Sensitivity to context: It relies on both rating scale responses and performance-based observations, which may be influenced by the specific context in which the assessment is conducted. Autistics may demonstrate variability in adaptive behavior across different settings, and the assessment might not fully capture these nuances.
• Communication challenges Communication challenges, which can affect their performance on the ABAS-3. The assessment may not fully capture the complexity of their communication skills and may underestimate their abilities in this domain.
• Limited focus on autism-specific behaviors: While the ABAS-3 covers a wide range of adaptive behavior domains, it may not fully capture the unique characteristics and challenges associated specifically with autism. Additional assessments and measures specifically designed for ASD may be necessary to obtain a comprehensive understanding of an individual's adaptive functioning.

Kindness is not just an act, it's a state of being

 

Empathy is the lens through which we see the world with a different perspective

Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society. 

 

Joy is the laughter that bubbles up from our heart

 

 Contemplation, one line a Day. 

Empathy is the hearts way of saying, I see you, I hear you and I feel you.

Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society. 

 

 

Optimism is the flame that ignites the fire within us to keep moving forward.

Empathy is the foundation of all relationships

Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society. 

 

When Axons Meet GPS Robot Cops

When Axons Meet GPS Robot Cops

Robo: Alright team, let's get these axons where they need to go. Slit, you're up first.

Slit: Alright, alright, don't rush me. Let me just activate my molecular mechanisms real quick.

Comm: Oh here we go, Slit and his molecular mechanisms. Always showing off.

Axon: Hey, can someone explain to me what's going on?”

Robo: Don't worry little guy, we're here to guide you. Slit is going to help you navigate to your destination.

Slit: That's right. I'm Slit, named after the slit-like spaces that I bind to. Not the most glamorous name, but hey, it's better than being called "sticky" like some other proteins. 

Comm: Hey, don't be dissing my molecular mechanisms. They may not be as flashy as yours, but they get the job done.”

Axon: I don't mean to interrupt, but what do you do, Comm?

Comm: Oh, me? I'm the commissure, here to make sure you cross the midline properly. But my full name is commissural neuron guidance molecule, which makes me sound like some sort of cop.

Robo: And I'm Robo, short for Roundabout. I know, I know, I sound like a robot. But hey, I'm the protein that helps guide you around obstacles and keep you on the right path.

Slit:  And together, we make a great team. The protein trio of axon guidance GPS. 

Axon: so I’m gonna interrupt again. But why do I need to cross the midline at all? Why do you need to guide me. What’s going on here and where am I going?”

Robo: Well Axon, to answer your earlier question about the big picture, it's all about forming the correct connections in the nervous system. The brain is made up of billions of neurons, and each neuron needs to make connections with other neurons to form a functional network. These connections allow us to do everything from sensing our environment to controlling our movements and thoughts.

Comm: And that's where we come in. We help guide axons to their appropriate targets, ensuring that the connections are made correctly. Without us, the nervous system would be a chaotic mess.

Slit: Exactly. And that's why it's so important for us to do our job correctly. Even a small mistake can lead to a misconnection that could have serious consequences for the individual.

Axon: Wow, I had no idea that I was part of such a complex process. It's kind of overwhelming.

Robo: Don't worry, little guy. We've got your back. Just trust us, and we'll guide you to where you need to go.

Slit: And who knows? Maybe someday you'll become a fully-formed neuron, making connections with other neurons and contributing to the functioning of the nervous system.

Comm: Yeah, and maybe you'll even be guiding another axon someday.

Axon: That sounds amazing. I can't wait to see where this journey takes me.

Robo: Alright team, let's get back to work. We have some important connections to make.

Axon: Wait, I have one more question. How did you all become proteins that guide axons?

Slit: Oh, it's a long story. It all started when we were just humble genes, waiting to be transcribed and translated.

Comm: And then one day, we were lucky enough to be selected to play a crucial role in axon guidance.

Robo: It's not the most glamorous job, but hey, someone's got to do it.

Axon: Well, I'm grateful for you guys. Thanks for guiding me through this crazy nervous system.

Slit: Anytime, dude. That's what we're here for.

Axon: Hey Robo, have you ever thought about what life would be like if you weren't proteins?

Robo: I can't say I have, Hey Slit and Comm. Do you want to be something else?

Slit: I don't know, maybe a neurotransmitter or something. Imagine how cool it would be to transmit information between neurons.

Comm: And I could be a transcription factor in a different system altogether. I could be regulating gene expression in a plant or something.

Robo: Oh come on, you guys. We're perfectly happy being proteins that guide axons. Let's not get too carried away with these fantasies.

Slit: Fine, fine. But you have to admit, it would be pretty cool.

Comm: Now let's get back shaping the intricate architecture of the nervous system. Lots of traffic to manage. 

Equanimity is the stillness that allows us to listen to our hearts.

Contemplation, one line a day. This month on Equanimity #MentalHealth

 

Empathy is the art of caring for someone else's feelings as if they were your own.

Contemplation, one line a day.Towards a more humane society, an empathic society.