Neurotransmitters Flow in this Autism Mind

Cognitive dissonance on ADOS

I was in an ADOS training this week. I can kind of get at the intended usefulness of this instrument. Its a screening and diagnostic measure that is widely used for Autism.

But disappointed at a few things that caused a lot of cognitive dissonance for me.

Video of kid who repeated back 2-3 words of one question of the clinician before responding - behavior marked as “echolalia”. But NT folks do this all the time, eg: common tactic in interviews as it buys you time to think. In the NT world this is called "active listening" Yet given as a negative label of echolalia in an autistic child instead of useful social strategy.

"Severe autism has reduced in the last 40 years." Not accurate!! It's just that autism includes many other dx since DSM-V and expanded to accommodate all ages, resulting in a bigger pool, so obviously that %severe looks smaller.

The type of ADOS module used depends on the oral level of the child. Module 1 is the one used for non-verbal/ minimally verbal kids. Seemed to imply that oral communication mandatory for ADOS, cannot be coded if child uses AAC.

Justification given is that use of AAC means

"It changes nature of eye contact."
"Are they modulating eye contact in some way"
"It changes the nature of what is happening."
They are not making eye contact when they are looking at device.
They are not doing social engagement with you while looking at device
There may be some pre-made phrases on device they are making use of

Seems like a fundamental problem if you run the module 1 on a child but say , oh by the way, you can’t communicate unless you can talk with your mouth.

So my question was whether ADOS then is not applicable to the 20-30% of autistics who have no to little spoken language.

Apparently ‘gestures’ are allowed but how much can you communicate with gestures unless you are fluent with ASL. And it is likely that kids with oral communication issues usually also have motor apraxia so their gesturing ability will not good as well.

We are thrilled that Hari Srinivasan will deliver the keynote for our #AutismAcceptance Month Event, Wed, Apr 3 at 4pm EST. Hari Srinivasan is a self-advocate, neuroscience PhD student and @PDSoros Fellow at Vanderbilt, & ACE committee member. Register at

https://duke.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcrdeqorDIpHdRE-CRvLPHkzKdL_ta7eYq-#/registration

https://www.peasepress.com/product-page/essential-truths-the-bay-area-in-color

What is LTP and LTD and how do they relate to Autism?

PlainSpeak. In Plain Language for the Lay Reader

Our brain cells (neurons) connect with each other through synapses, which are like tiny bridges for communication. These connections can change in strength, helping us learn and remember. Two key ways these connections change are Long-Term Potentiation (LTP) and Long-Term Depression (LTD).

LTP: This is when the connection between two neurons gets stronger. Think of it like a friendship that grows stronger the more you interact.
LTD: This is when the connection weakens, similar to a friendship that fades when you stop interacting.

Hebbian Plasticity

Hebbian plasticity is a rule that explains how these changes happen: "cells that fire together, wire together." This means that if two neurons are active at the same time, their connection strengthens (LTP). If one neuron is active while the other is not, their connection weakens (LTD).

How LTP and LTD are Different in Autism

Research has shown that people with autism often have differences in how LTP and LTD work, which can affect learning and behavior:

Memory and Learning:
- Studies on animals have shown that the hippocampus, a brain area crucial for memory, has trouble with LTP in autism. This might explain some learning difficulties seen in autism (Rubenstein & Merzenich, 2003; Bourgeron, 2015) (Frontiers) (Nature).
Movement and Coordination:
- The cerebellum, which helps control movement, shows problems with LTD in autism. This can lead to issues with coordination and motor skills (Fatemi et al., 2012) (Nature).
Genes and Synapses:
- Certain genes that help keep synapses strong and flexible can be different in people with autism. For example, genes like SHANK3 and NRXN1 are important for synaptic strength. Changes in these genes can disrupt the balance of LTP and LTD, affecting how neurons communicate (Durand et al., 2007; Südhof, 2008) (Frontiers) (Nature).
Role of Dopamine:
- Dopamine is a chemical in the brain that helps regulate mood and movement. It also affects LTP and LTD. In autism, dopamine might not work the same way, influencing learning and behavior (Yagishita et al., 2014) (Frontiers).

Understanding these differences helps scientists find better ways to support autistics, aiming to improve learning, memory, and coordination.

2 versions of this post

PlainSpeak. Plain Language for the Lay Reader

For the Academic/Scientific Audience

Remembering Judy. We miss you.

Remembering Judy who passed away a year ago this day. We miss you.

=======

Back in 2019 I had the opportunity to interview the legendary disability civil rights activist, Judy Heumann, for UC Berkeley's "The Daily Californian". Post: https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/2022/12/collaboration-cooperation.html

Other posts on Judy in this blog can be found at https://uniquelyhari.blogspot.com/search?q=heumann

Benefits of Solutions

https://time.com/6299599/autism-research-limited-essay/

Media Mention by India Autism Center Nayi Disha

Interoception

Interoception refers to the perception of internal bodily states and is a critical component of emotional awareness and regulation. In autism, interoceptive experiences can be distinct, potentially influencing the recognition and communication of needs and emotions (Quattrocki & Friston, 2014). This divergence in interoceptive processing underscores the complexity of understanding internal states and managing emotions in autism.

https://www.dailycal.org/2018/03/15/first-transitions

Your body position influences your emotional state

Research on posture and emotion has shown that adopting certain body positions can influence one's emotional state.

A study by Peper and Lin (2012) explored how body posture affects energy levels and the ability to generate positive and negative thoughts. They found that an upright posture can promote a more positive mood and energy levels, while a slumped posture can lead to increased feelings of depression.

Peper, E., & Lin, I. (2012). Increase or decrease depression: How body postures influence your energy level. Biofeedback, 40(3), 125-130.

TedX Talk

I will be in a TedX talk on April 20.

https://www.ted.com/tedx/events/56378

Public Voices Fellowship.

Understanding Autism and The Cocktail Party Effect

Plain Language Version for Lay Reader

The "cocktail party effect" is the brain's ability to focus on one sound, like a conversation, while ignoring other noises around us. Imagine you're at a busy party with many people talking. You can still listen to and talk with one person without getting distracted by the background noise. This skill involves parts of the brain that handle hearing and attention. The term was first used by scientist Colin Cherry in the 1950s.

How It Works

At a noisy event, like a party, you can focus on what one person is saying even though many other conversations are happening at the same time. This shows how we can pick out specific sounds in a noisy place. Scientists study this to understand how our attention and hearing systems work together.

Autism and the Cocktail Party Effect

For autistics, the cocktail party effect can work differently because of how they process sounds and focus their attention. Here are some key points:

Auditory Filtering: Autistics might find it harder to separate speech from background noise. This is sometimes called "auditory filtering problems."
Research Findings: Studies show that autistic children often have more trouble focusing on speech in noisy places compared to non-autistic children. This can lead to feeling overwhelmed by too much noise.
Brain Differences: The parts of the brain that deal with sound might work differently in autistic people. This can make it hard to tell apart important sounds (like someone talking to you) from background noise.

Why It Matters

Understanding these differences is important to help autistic people feel more comfortable in noisy places. Schools, workplaces, and social settings can use this knowledge to create better environments that consider their sensory needs.

Versions of this article: Academic/Scientific Audience, Plain Language for Lay Reader

Articles on other topics in #PlainSpeak

https://www.dailycal.org/2018/04/05/access-ramp-volunteering