Fall Equinox

The Fall equinox (September equinox, autumn equinox,fall equinox) is an astronomical event that occurs annually around September 22nd or 23rd in the northern hemisphere and around March 20th or 21st in the southern hemisphere. It marks the moment when the sun crosses the celestial equator; the Earth's axis is not tilted toward or away from the sun. As a result, the sun appears directly over the Earth's equator, and day and night are approximately of equal duration across the globe.

Rituals and celebrations associated with the fall equinox tend and be more significant in regions that are further away from the equator; where the changing of seasons, including the transition from summer to fall, is more noticeable, and the equinoxes have a greater impact on day length and seasonal shifts. However, variations of rituals and celebrations related to the fall equinox can be found across different latitudes and cultural backgrounds, reflecting the significance of this celestial event in various traditions.

• Harvest Festivals: Many cultures celebrate the fall equinox as a harvest festival, giving thanks for the abundance of crops and the bountiful harvest season. Examples include Thanksgiving in North America, Chuseok in Korea, and the Harvest Moon Festival in China.
• Mabon: Mabon is a neopagan festival that is often celebrated around the fall equinox. It is a time to honor the balance between light and dark and to express gratitude for the harvest. Rituals may involve feasting, making offerings to deities, and communing with nature.
• Day of the Dead: In some Latin American countries, including Mexico, the fall equinox coincides with the beginning of the Day of the Dead celebrations. This multi-day festival involves honoring deceased loved ones, creating altars, and participating in processions and ceremonies.
• Mid-Autumn Festival: The Mid-Autumn Festival is widely celebrated in East Asia, including China, Vietnam, and other regions with Chinese cultural influence. It typically falls around the fall equinox and is marked by the lighting of lanterns, family gatherings, moon-viewing, and the consumption of mooncakes.
• Pagan and Druidic Traditions: In certain pagan and druidic traditions, the fall equinox is known as "Mabon" or "Alban Elfed." It is considered a time of balance, with rituals centering on themes of thanksgiving, reflection, and preparing for the coming winter.

Day meets night, in a dance of equinox light

where seasons change in harmonious flight

"Goodness is the gentle rain that nourishes the seeds of compassion, blooming into acts of love and generosity." - Hari Srinivasan

Contemplation, one line a day

 Serenity is the clarity that comes with a quiet mind.

"Courage is the steadfast bridge from fear to possibility, and in everyday life, it's found in the willingness to take that first step into the unknown." - Hari Srinivasan

Back at the DeCal

It was lovely to be back as guest speaker at the UC Berkeley Autism Decal Class, a class that I led when I was at Berkeley. I can't believe this will be my 3rd time as guest speaker (or that I'm in 2nd year of grad school). I sure miss that class and the amazing opportunity it provided for me to not just contribute but also to learn and grown.

This time spoke about what my advocacy journey had looked looked like as I want others to come up with their own unique journeys and find ways to contribute, and also about my research in both grad and undergrad. 

 

Proud of my alma mater

https://news.berkeley.edu/2023/09/17/u-s-news-ranks-uc-berkeley-top-public-school-in-the-country

Apraxia Dyspraxia and its connection to autism

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disability characterized by challenges with social interaction, communication, and repetitive behaviors. While apraxia and dyspraxia are not the core features of autism, they can co-occur in autism. The exact reasons for the overlap are not fully understood, but it's believed that shared neural pathways might play a role. And while we don’t know whether all the spoken communication challenges seen in a significant portion of autistics are exactly due to apraxia or dyspraxia, the fact of the matter is that many of us do seem to tick the some of checkboxes of the textbook descriptions of what apraxia and dyspraxia are at an observational level.

For instance, Apraxia is thought to be the result of impact to the part of the brain that plans the movements required to produce speech. You may know what you want to say, but your brain has difficulty in coordinating the muscle movements necessary to say those words. There may be inconsistent speech errors, difficulty in imitating speech and more errors when there are longer sentences or more complex words.

Dyspraxia affects motor skill development. It's not due to muscle weakness but rather a brain-based issue in planning and coordinating movements. So you may struggle with tasks like tying shoes, buttoning shirts, or any activities that require a sequence of movements. Or you might appear clumsy or awkward in your movements when you engage in such tasks.

Again we don’t know if apraxia and dyspraxia by themselves explain all the communication issues seen in almost a third of the autistic population. we don't fully understand how it connects to autism biologically. In other words, we don't know what parts of the brain, neurotransmitters, synaptic connections, and signaling pathways are impacted in those with autism with apraxia and without apraxia. We don't know whether the neurological issues that contribute to someone having autism also predispose them heavily towards having apraxia. Given that 87% of people with autism reportedly have some kind of motor issues, it is highly plausible that they are closely interconnected. 

I think its more useful to use broader terms of what is happening with autistics like "movement differences" or "motor difficulties" till we can say on the basis of real science that the primary neurological condition impacting our movement issues is apraxia or dyspraxia.

Importantly, we do know that communication is a huge challenge and there is an urgent need to not only figure out what is going on but also an equally urgent need for translatable solutions.

 

Contemplation, one thought a day

Serenity is the freedom that comes with letting go of attachment.

Contemplation

 Compassionate action is the bridge between intention and impact.- Hari Srinivasan

Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance theory, proposed by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s, is a fundamental concept in psychology that explores the discomfort people experience when they hold conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values. When individuals encounter information or situations that challenge their existing beliefs or attitudes, they often experience cognitive dissonance, a state of psychological tension. This tension arises from the inconsistency between what they believe and what they are confronted with.

To reduce this discomfort, individuals typically employ various cognitive and behavioral strategies. They may change their beliefs or attitudes to align with the new information, seek out information that supports their existing beliefs (confirmation bias), or downplay the significance of the conflicting information. For example, if someone holds a negative stereotype about a particular group but then has a positive encounter with a member of that group, they might experience cognitive dissonance. To alleviate this discomfort, they may adjust their stereotype or minimize the significance of the positive encounter.

Cognitive dissonance theory is crucial for understanding the dynamics of attitude change and behavior. It highlights the human tendency to strive for consistency in our beliefs and actions and the discomfort that arises when inconsistency occurs. By recognizing cognitive dissonance, psychologists and individuals alike can better understand the processes underlying attitude change, prejudice reduction, and decision-making in the face of conflicting information

An article where I talk about its impacts with respect to autism 

https://disabilityvisibilityproject.com/2021/02/06/a-boy-like-me/

Consciousness

The exploration of consciousness is a central theme in both  Buddhism and Sanathana Dharma (Hinduism) philosophies, and modern scientific inquiry has begun to intersect with some of these ancient concepts. While there are parallels, there are also significant differences in the methodologies, foundational assumptions, and goals of spiritual traditions and scientific inquiry. The intersections, however, provide fertile ground for scientific enrichment.

Nature of Consciousness and Quantum Physics. Both Sanathana Dharma and Buddhism assert that consciousness isn't a byproduct but a fundamental aspect of reality. This perspective aligns, to some extent, with certain interpretations of quantum mechanics, which propose that consciousness plays a role in the process of quantum measurement or wave function collapse.

Meditation, Mindfulness, and Neuroscience: Neuroscientific research into the effects of meditation—a practice central to both Sanathana Dharma and Buddhist traditions—has shown that it can induce significant changes in areas of the brain associated with attention, emotion regulation, and self-awareness.

Self and Non-self:  Sanathana Dharma philosophy's exploration of the self through concepts like "Atman" (individual soul) and its relationship with "Brahman" (universal consciousness) can be seen in parallel with the scientific exploration of individual consciousness and its relationship with the world. Buddhism's concept of "Anatta" (non-self) proposes that there's no continuous, unchanging self. This idea resonates with certain findings in neuroscience, suggesting that the perception of a continuous "self" is an emergent property of various neural processes and not localized in one part of the brain. 

Levels and States of Consciousness: The Mandukya Upanishad, outlines different states of consciousness, including waking, dreaming, deep sleep, and a transcendent state known as "Turiya." Modern neuroscience also explores various states of consciousness, such as REM sleep, deep sleep, and altered states induced by substances or meditation. Buddhist meditation practices often aim to transcend ordinary states of consciousness and attain enlightened states. Neuroscientific studies on accomplished meditators have reported unique brainwave patterns and states of consciousness.

Interconnectedness: Both Sanathana Dharma and Buddhist philosophies emphasize the interconnectedness of all things. This idea has resonances with holistic perspectives in science, especially in fields like ecology and certain interpretations of quantum physics which emphasize non-locality and entanglement.

Plasticity and Transformation: Both Sanathana Dharma and Buddhist traditions emphasize the possibility of transforming one's mind and consciousness. The idea of neuroplasticity in modern neuroscience—that the brain is malleable and can be changed through experiences, especially practices like meditation—aligns with this.

Phenomenal Experience: Buddhism, particularly in schools like Yogacara, delves deep into the nature of experience, cognition, and perception. These explorations find parallels in cognitive science and phenomenological approaches in modern philosophy of mind.

Contemplation

 In the midst of amusement, we find a moment of pure joy.- Hari Srinivasan

 https://www.newsweek.com/dual-approach-autism-opinion-1818062

To drive true progress and improve the quality of life of all autistics we need BOTH Strengths_based_Opportunities AND Challenges_based_Solutions. 

It is not Either-Or.

#Autism #Research #Strengths_based_opportunities #Challenges_based_solutions.