POM 101

I completed the Protection of Minors Training this morning. 

Why is this important - while a majority of students are not-minors,  universities do cross path with thousands of children each year with all the programs they run., ~50K kids/year at Vandy, per the training. 

Apparently 1:10 kids get abused (median age 9) but only 38% disclose and 90% perpetrators are known to the child. Types of abuse include physical, sexual, neglect and emotional. 

When it comes to abuse, most just focus on the physical or sexual parts. I want to address childhood "abuse" in the context of disabled kids who are also subject to endless rounds of emotional abuse and neglect all through childhood. It's terribly unreported, not even acknowledged, and we carry lifelong emotional scars well into adulthood. 

Here is a small example: Throughout my special education years in elementary I was moved around multiple classrooms, sometimes are many as 4 in the course of one school year. How is that not emotional abuse by teachers who openly did not want me in their classrooms and resentful of my presence. How does that make a small child feel. How it is that the very people we are supposed to trust to nurture and support us (the 98% of folks we are surrounded by), end up as the perpetuators of lifelong emotional trauma for us. 

Empathy is the glue that holds us together in times of difficulty

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

 

Stepping Stones to Bliss

Do not despair when adversities confront you or exult when success blesses you.

Any adversity is a stepping-stone to eternal bliss.

- Sri Satya Sai Baba

Haas Scholars Cohort

 This day last year. Hanging with my Haas Scholars Cohort @UC Berkeleu

Empathy is not just a feeling, its an action that can change lives

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

 

A Highly Sensitive Person

A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) 

"Sensitivity is a heightened 'ability to .... to one’s environment'"

"I often complain about sounds, smells, or tastes that don’t seem to bother those around me..

Does that sound like Deja vu for the sensory overstimulated autistic?  

Read more in this Greater Good Science Center article.

Bayes Squad

 The Bayes Squad

A Probability Party with Formula Fellows

Bayes Theorem BT: Alright folks, let's get this Bayesian statistics party started! I'm Bayes Theorem, and I'm the king of the castle around here.

Prior Probability PA(A): Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down there, Bayes. You may be the main formula, but I'm the one who sets the foundation. I'm Prior Probability, and I establish the probability of events before any data is collected.

Likelihood P(A): And I'm Likelihood, the star of the show. I calculate the probability of evidence given the hypothesis.

Social Motivation Theory

While no single theory fully explains all aspects of autism, each attempts to provide insights into different cognitive and behavioral characteristics.  

• This theory suggests that social interaction is less rewarding for individuals with autism, leading to reduced motivation to engage in social behavior. This reduced social motivation is thought to contribute to the social and communication difficulties observed in autism.
• Implications: Limited social engagement, challenges in forming and maintaining relationships, and reduced interest in social activities.

Read more on [Social Motivation Theory]

Posts on other [Theories of Autism]

Eastern Rosebud

Eastern Rosebud

campus at start of spring

 

Serenity is the compassion that comes with forgiveness.

 

Empathy is the foundation of true understanding and acceptance

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

 

If you don't demand, you are not going to get it.

Remembering the late Judy Heumann

 

Autism Subgroups

 Buch et al, 2023

Key takeaways  

• The identification of three autism subgroups based on genetic and brain connectivity differences. 
• 1. increased expression of genes involved in immune system function and synaptic signaling, as well as increased connectivity between the default mode network and the visual network. 
• 2. decreased expression of genes involved in synaptic signaling and increased connectivity between the default mode network and the somatomotor network. 
• 3. increased expression of genes involved in mitochondrial function and decreased connectivity between the DMN and the somatomotor network. 
• The suggestion that key genes associated with each subgroup may lead to distinct autism-related behavioral phenotypes via interactions with atypical functional brain connectivity patterns.
• Distinct biological subtypes of autism may require different treatment approaches.

Methods

combo of network-based analysis and text mining to identify hub genes associated with each subgroup and to analyze the frequency of certain keywords in abstracts related to these genes. The goal was to understand how these genes and their associated behavioral phenotypes may be related to atypical brain connectivity patterns in each subgroup.

Limitations of study

• Small sample size
• data from post-mortem brain tissue, which may not fully capture the living brain complexity.
• Focus only on genetic and brain connectivity differences, not look at other factors. Also not look at environmental factors. 
• No controls (ie: are these subgroups present in non-autistic controls)
• Sex differences not looked at. 

Questions that arise

• How to use subgroups to develop more personalized treatments for each subgroup
• How can these findings be used to inform not just childhood dx but also how to help the growing number of adult autistics.
• Are there other factors beyond genetics and brain connectivity that may contribute to the development of these subgroups?
• What are the ethical implications of using genetic and brain connectivity data to identify subgroups.