Autism Lexicon: Autistic Inertia
Autistic inertia refers to the difficulty some autistic individuals experience in initiating or terminating tasks, linked to neurobiological factors affecting cognitive flexibility, task switching, and motor planning.
PlainSpeak: Autistic inertia describes the challenges that autistic people may face in starting or stopping activities, often needing extra effort or support due to differences in brain function
An emotionality paradigm refers to an experimental framework or set of tasks designed to study how individuals perceive, process, and respond to emotional stimuli. These paradigms typically involve presenting participants with stimuli that elicit emotions, such as images, sounds, or videos of facial expressions, emotional words, or scenarios that convey different emotional states (e.g., fear, joy, anger, disgust). Researchers use these paradigms to investigate aspects of emotional processing, including recognition of emotions, emotional regulation, attention to emotional cues, and the impact of emotions on decision-making or behavior.
In the context of neuroscience or psychology, emotionality paradigms might be used alongside techniques like EEG, fMRI, or behavioral tasks to observe the neural correlates of emotional processing or assess how emotional responses differ across populations, such as in autism or anxiety disorders. For example, a task might involve showing a participant an image of a fearful face and measuring their brain response or reaction time to assess how quickly and accurately they process the emotion.
In PlainSpeak (Lay Language)
An emotionality paradigm is a way for researchers to study how people react to and process emotions. In these studies, participants are shown things that cause emotional reactions, like pictures, sounds, or videos showing different feelings such as happiness, fear, or anger. The goal is to understand how people recognize emotions, how they manage or control their emotions, and how emotions affect their thoughts or decisions.
In brain research, these tasks might be done while tracking brain activity using tools like EEG or fMRI, which help see how the brain processes emotions. These studies are often used to compare how people with different conditions, like autism or anxiety, respond to emotional situations. For example, a task might show a picture of a scared face, and researchers would measure how fast or accurately someone notices or reacts to that emotion.
Key Highlights of the Autism CARES Act of 2024:
2000s: Gastrointestinal Issues and the Gut-Brain Axis: Studies link GI issues to behavioral changes in autism, leading to research on the gut-brain connection and its impact on autism symptoms.
2014-2018: Endocannabinoid System: Research reveals its role in regulating mood and stress in autism, leading to trials exploring CBD as a treatment for anxiety and sensory sensitivities.
2016: Immune System and Neuroinflammation: Research finds links between immune system irregularities and autism, with some individuals displaying elevated inflammatory markers.
2017: Microglia and Inflammation Research: Studies on microglia (the brain’s immune cells) suggest that increased activation may contribute to autism traits through neuroinflammation.
2019: Microbiome and Gut-Brain Research: Research on the gut microbiome shows that differences in gut bacteria may influence autism symptoms, prompting interest in probiotic treatments.
2019-2021: Nutritional and Metabolic Research: Research explores nutritional deficiencies and metabolic dysfunction in autism, leading to interest in dietary supplements and other nutritional interventions.
2020s: Precision Medicine Approaches: The rise of precision medicine leads to personalized autism treatments tailored to individual genetic, biological, and environmental profiles.
2010s: Autism and Anxiety: Studies show that anxiety is one of the most common co-occurring conditions in autism, particularly linked to sensory sensitivities and social challenges.
2020s: Depression and Suicide Research reveals high rates of depression and suicidal ideation among autistic individuals, leading to calls for targeted mental health interventions.
2014: High Prevalence of Co-occurring Conditions: Studies reveal that 70-80% of autistic individuals have co-occurring conditions like anxiety, depression, ADHD, or epilepsy, emphasizing the need for integrated care.
2010: Shift Toward Aging Research: Research begins focusing on the aging process in autistic adults, identifying accelerated aging and increased physical and mental health conditions.
2015: Aging in Autistic Adults: Studies show that older autistic adults face increased physical health issues like mobility problems and early cognitive decline.
2016: Premature Mortality in Autism: Research reveals a higher risk of premature mortality in autistic individuals due to co-occurring conditions and limited healthcare access.
2019: Social Isolation and Mental Health in Older Adults: Studies highlight loneliness, depression, and anxiety in older autistic adults, prompting calls for better social support.
2020s: Aging, Mental Health, and Physical Health: Research shifts to focus on employment, independent living, and healthcare for aging autistic individuals, emphasizing the need for lifelong supports.
2023: Neurodegenerative Diseases and Autism: Emerging research suggests that older autistic individuals may be at higher risk for neurodegenerative diseases, prompting preventive healthcare strategies.
1980s-1990s: Recognition of motor impairments in autism, such as coordination issues and fine motor skill difficulties.
2000s: Movement and Motor Stereotypies: Motor stereotypies, such as hand-flapping and rocking, are studied as part of sensorimotor integration and self-regulation in autism.
2011: Motor Planning and Dyspraxia: Research reveals that many autistic individuals struggle with motor planning and dyspraxia, affecting both fine and gross motor tasks.
2015: Cerebellar and Motor Function: Neuroimaging reveals cerebellar abnormalities in autistic individuals, linking them to difficulties with motor coordination and balance.
2016: Gait and Balance in Autism: Studies show that many autistic individuals have atypical gait patterns and balance issues, which affect daily functioning.
2018: Motor Skills and Social Communication: Research highlights a link between motor skills and social communication, suggesting that improving motor coordination can also enhance social abilities.
2020s: Movement Disorder Subtypes: Research identifies subtypes of motor dysfunction in autism, including parkinsonism and proprioceptive challenges, adding depth to motor-related autism research.
1977: Genetic Link Discovered: Twin studies by Folstein and Rutter reveal a strong genetic component to autism, marking the beginning of autism genetics research.
1980s: Brain Differences Identified: Neuroimaging shows structural differences in the amygdala, frontal cortex, and cerebellum, regions related to social interaction and motor coordination.
2007: Autism Genome Project identifies several genetic mutations, emphasizing the heterogeneous nature of autism and its complex genetics.
2011: Synaptic Pruning: Research finds that impaired pruning in autistic individuals may lead to excess neural connections, contributing to sensory overload.
2015: CRISPR and Genetic Editing: The introduction of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology provides new insights into autism by allowing the study of genetic mutations and considering potential treatments.
2018: Epigenetics research shows how environmental factors influence gene expression, adding complexity to the genetic understanding of autism.
1990s: Sensory Processing Differences: Researchers recognize sensory processing differences (hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity) as a hallmark of autism, leading to sensory-based therapies to manage anxiety and stress.
2000s: Sensory Integration Therapy emerges as a common approach to help autistics respond better to sensory input, using activities such as swinging, climbing, and deep pressure to improve sensory regulation.
2000s: Sensory Overload and Environmental Factors: Studies explore how sensory overload in environments like schools and workplaces contributes to anxiety and meltdowns. Creating sensory-friendly environments with dim lighting and noise reduction improves functioning.
2010s: Sensory Over-responsivity and Brain Connectivity: Over-responsivity to sensory stimuli is linked to atypical brain connectivity, showing hyperconnectivity in sensory processing areas, which results in overwhelming responses to stimuli like loud noises or bright lights.
2010s: Sensory Subtypes in Autism: Researchers identify sensory subtypes, including over-responsive, under-responsive, and sensory-seeking behaviors, acknowledging the diversity in sensory processing challenges.
2018: Sensory Processing and Mental Health: Research highlights the connection between sensory processing differences and mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression, especially in relation to sensory overload contributing to social withdrawal and stress.
2020s: Sensory Processing and Social Communication: Findings suggest that sensory processing differences directly impact social communication in autism. Sensory overload may interfere with social interactions, prompting sensory-informed social skills interventions.
2020s: Wearable Sensory Devices: Wearable devices, such as noise-cancelling headphones and compression garments, help autistic individuals manage sensory overload in daily settings.
2010s: Assistive Technology for Communication [still lagging terribly]
2020s: AI and Virtual Reality (VR): applied in autism research, particularly in social skills training, allowing autistic individuals to practice social interactions in controlled settings.
2010s: Employment Challenges: Research reveals widespread unemployment and underemployment among autistic adults, leading to the development of neurodiversity hiring programs at major companies like SAP and Microsoft.
2020s: Inclusive Work Environments: Studies focus on creating inclusive work environments, showing that autistic employees can thrive with the right accommodations and mentorship.
1980s: Theory of Mind (ToM): Research introduces mindblindness in autistic individuals, suggesting difficulty understanding others’ thoughts and feelings (Theory of Mind deficits).
1990s: Executive Function and Social Challenges: Studies explore how executive function deficits (e.g., planning, flexibility) affect social cognition, leading to challenges in managing social situations.
2000s: Empathy Research: Researchers distinguish between cognitive empathy (understanding others’ perspectives) and affective empathy (sharing others’ emotions), with cognitive empathy being impaired but affective empathy often intact.
2010s: Mirror Neuron Research: Mirror neuron dysfunction is studied as a potential cause of difficulties with social imitation and understanding others' actions in autism.
2017: Social Skills Training: Social skills training programs target social cognition deficits, such as recognizing emotions and understanding social cues, improving social functioning.
2018: Social Cognition and Cognitive Flexibility: Research shows that autistic individuals process social information differently, leading to interventions focused on cognitive flexibility and social interaction.
2020s: Social Motivation Theory: Social motivation theory suggests that reduced motivation for social interactions, rather than an inability to understand social cues, contributes to autism’s social challenges.
1990s-2000s: Early Screening: Advances in early screening tools, enable earlier detection and more effective interventions.
2010s: Early Behavioral Interventions: Research on early interventions ABA, Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), and Pivotal Response Training (PRT).
2010s: Autism in Females: Research revealing that many autistic women and girls are underdiagnosed due to masking behaviors.
2020s: Late Diagnosis in Women: Studies emphasize the need for gender-sensitive diagnostic criteria and appropriate supports for these individuals.
2010-20s: Nonbinary Individuals: Studies emphasize the need for gender-sensitive diagnostic criteria. Researchers find that nonbinary and transgender autistic individuals are also often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed, as their experiences may not align with traditional diagnostic frameworks.
2000s: Family Impact: Research highlights the emotional, financial, and logistical burdens faced by families and caregivers of autistic individuals, calling for family-centered support services.
2000s: Sibling Research: Studies explore the experiences of siblings of autistic individuals, prompting the development of support groups and resources for siblings.
2010s: Rise of the Neurodiversity Movement: The neurodiversity movement led by autistic self-advocates promotes the view of autism as a natural variation of human experience, leading to a strengths-based approach to autism research.
2020s: Advocacy and Policy Changes: push for more inclusive research practices and participatory models, making autistic individuals co-creators of research.
Starting off Disability Awareness Month with my TedX talk
https://www.
The Birth of Section 504
In 1973, the first federal civil rights protection for people with disabilities, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, was signed into law. Section 504 specifically prohibits discrimination against persons with disabilities by any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. This law was based on the language of previous civil rights laws that protected women and minorities, recognizing that society had historically treated people with disabilities as second-class citizens based on deeply held fears and stereotypes. These attitudes had translated into pity and persecution and later into policies that were based on paternalism.Activism and the 504 Sit-in
Despite its promise, the implementation of Section 504 faced significant delays and resistance. Between 1973 and 1977, no regulations were issued to enforce it. During this period, strong regulations were drafted by attorneys in the Office for Civil Rights and sent to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) with a recommendation to publish them for public comment. However, opposition from covered entities such as hospitals, universities, and state and county governments led to much delay. The disability community filed a lawsuit in federal court, and the judge ruled that the regulations must be issued but did not specify when.
In response to these delays, the disability community mobilized. One of the most significant actions was the 504 Sit-in at the San Francisco Federal Building in 1977, led by activists like Judy Heumann and Kitty Cone. This sit-in, which lasted 26 days, was the longest nonviolent occupation of a federal building in U.S. history. Kitty Cone, in her "Short History of the 504 Sit-in" on the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) website, recounts the strategic planning and broad community support that sustained the protest.
Cone writes, "In the Bay Area, a broad cross-disability coalition, the Emergency 504 Coalition, began building for a rally on April 5th, knowing we’d sit in afterwards. We set up committees to take on different tasks such as rally speakers, media, fund-raising, medics, monitors, publicity, and outreach." The outreach committee's success in garnering broad community support from churches, unions, civil rights organizations, and others proved invaluable once inside the building. The Black Panther Party and Glide Memorial Church provided food, and the International Association of Machinists facilitated the transport of demonstrators to Washington."
The sit-in participants endured physically grueling conditions, sleeping on the floor and dealing with stress about their families, jobs, and health. Cone describes how all participants met daily to make tactical decisions in flowing, creative meetings that often went on for hours. This process was critical for developing consensus and a course of action.
Joseph Califano and the Regulations
The central figure of resistance within the government was Joseph Califano, the Secretary of HEW. Califano was reluctant to sign off on the regulations necessary to enforce Section 504. The activists' persistence, however, eventually bore fruit. Public pressure mounted, and the media attention garnered by the protests made it impossible to ignore their cause. On April 28, 1977, Califano finally signed the regulations, making Section 504 enforceable and marking a monumental victory for disability rights.
Impact of Section 504
Section 504 has had a profound impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities and on American society as a whole. Key outcomes include:
Fond memories of Greek Theatre, built in 1903.
Bonfire Night before the Big Game and who can forget the finale - Psychology Dept Commencement where I gave a speech on stage.
[Plain Language for Lay Audience]
Alexithymia means having trouble recognizing and describing your own emotions. People with alexithymia often can't tell what they are feeling and find it hard to explain their emotions to others. This can make it difficult to connect with others and share feelings.
Interoception is the ability to sense and understand signals from inside your body. These signals include things like hunger, thirst, heartbeat, temperature, breathing, and the need to go to the bathroom. Interoception helps keep our bodies balanced and healthy by letting us know what we need and how we feel inside. It also plays a big role in how we experience and control our emotions by linking our body sensations to our feelings.
Both alexithymia and interoception issues can happen together in autism.
Autistics might have unusual interoceptive awareness, meaning they can be more or less aware of their body signals than other people. This can cause problems like not noticing when they are uncomfortable or sick, or misunderstanding changes in their emotions, which are important for social interactions and taking care of their health.
Here are some examples of how this can affect autistics:
From a brain science perspective, the insular cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) are important for interoception. The insula helps combine body signals with thoughts and emotions, while the ACC is involved in feeling pain. In autism, these brain areas might work differently, affecting how body signals and emotions are processed. Studies using brain scans have shown that the insula reacts differently during body signal tasks in autism, which might explain their unique interoceptive experiences.
Addressing both alexithymia and interoception is important for improving emotional understanding and overall well-being. Helping autistics improve their interoceptive skills can lead to better emotional control and awareness, making it easier for them to connect with others and take care of their health.
2 Versions of this article:
Plain Language for Lay Audience
Other Articles in Plain Language #PlainSpeak
