Capturing Joy

 This time in Jan 2022

With my Haas Scholars Cohort on the UC Berkeley Campus. 

We were back to in-person meetings though fully masked indoors. 

Kevin, 2nd from Left, just got into Columbia Law. 

Huge Congrats Kevin! You will surely change the world with your work on prison reform. 

Freezing Rain

Ground temperature, below-freezing

Air temperature, above-freezing
liquid raindrops fall, temperature bends.
Drops hit the ground, instant freeze
Freezing rain, slick roads of unease.

Local vs Distributed Information

[Concepts in Sensorimotor Research]

Class Discussion  in my Multisensory Processing seminar class, see details of paper here. 

Implications for autism. Application and interventions is my big thought always.

I think by now it is pretty established that there are glitches in multisensory processing in autistics.

Past studies indicate TBW (Temporal Binding Window) larger in autistics - individual cortical columns were strong, but not talking to columns in other domains.

I want to highlight that this paper says that this balance between distributed vs local information can be a tool to explore differences in multisensory processing. The paper also goes on to say that this can be used to develop effective interventions aimed at improving performance on tasks requiring coordination between different sensory modalities.

So how exactly can we start to do this. What kind of experiment design can we set up so that we get to big goal of interventions. Do we first check for what regions of the brain are involved in autistics, while we do a task.

Melancholy

Melancholy creeps upon my heart

A feeling, deep and dark, it starts

A longing for something lost

A sorrow that comes at any cost.

Joy is the hope that comes with the belief that anything is possible

Contemplation, one line a day. #MentalHealth

 

A tempest tossed

 

A tempest tossed

In a world of noise and chaos,

My mind is a storm, a tempest tossed.

The overwhelming sensation,

Meltdown, a state of frustration.

My senses heightened,

Sounds and lights, so brightened.

A cacophony of noise,

A confusion that destroys.

A feeling of impending doom.

As I try to find an escape room.

But there is no escape,

From this overwhelming state.

I am trapped in my mind,

A prisoner of my own fate.

Is there a glimmer of hope,

A lifeline to help me cope.

To regain control, and continue on

But in the middle of the meltdown, all that is long gone. 

Apraxia, dyspraxia, oral-motor apraxia, Aphasia

[Concepts in Sensorimotor Research]

Pretty much every SLP I've been to over the years, has mentioned these terms. So what exactly are they. 

Apraxia, dyspraxia, and oral-motor apraxia are all related to deficits in motor planning and execution, but they differ in their specific manifestations and underlying neural mechanisms.

ADI - Autism Diagnostic Interview

Lexicon [Measures]- ADI

 The Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) is a semi-structured, and standardized interview designed for caregivers of autistics to gather information about the individual's behavior and development in key areas related to autism. The ADI-R is typically used for diagnostic purposes and for aiding in the assessment and treatment planning for autistics. [See posts on other Screening/Diagnostic Measures]

Limitations

• Limited applicability for nonspeaking individuals: The ADI-R is primarily designed for individuals with some level of spoken language skills.. Alternative assessment tools, may be necessary to complement the ADI-R in evaluating these individuals.
• The test is designed for a mental age of 18 months. [See post why Mental Age is problematic]
• Lack of emphasis on strengths and abilities: The ADI-R primarily focuses on identifying deficits and autism symptoms. A comprehensive assessment should also consider strengths and positive attributes that can contribute to a more holistic understanding of the individual.
• Does not factor in co-occuring condition and other complex health issues. 
• Limited assessment of current functioning: The ADI-R primarily focuses on gathering retrospective information about the individual's behavior and development. While it provides valuable insights into early childhood behaviors, it may not capture the individual's current functioning or changes in behavior over time. Assessing current symptoms and adaptive functioning requires additional measures or observations.
• Reliance on informant report: The accuracy and reliability of the information collected depend on the informant's memory, observations, and interpretation. There may be instances where informants may not have complete or accurate knowledge of the individual's behavior, especially in cases where the informant is not the primary caregiver or when there are multiple caregivers with different levels of involvement.
• Subjectivity and biases: The ADI-R is susceptible to subjective biases, both from the interviewer and the informant which can influence reliability of results.
• Language and cultural factors: The ADI-R was developed primarily in English-speaking populations and may not fully capture cultural and linguistic variations. Cultural and language factors can influence the interpretation and reporting of behaviors, potentially leading to variations in the assessment outcomes for individuals from different cultural backgrounds or those with limited language abilities.
  

Joy is the courage that comes with facing our fears and overcoming them

Contemplation, one line a day. #MentalHealth

 

Congratulations Keivan Staussun

Congratulations Keivan Stassun,
A leader in astronomy and physics,
Your work brings insight and precision.
Appointed to the National Science Board with distinction,
By the President of the United States, none other!!

Founder of the Frist Center for autism and innovation,
You strive for inclusion and recognition,
Your dedication and passion, a true inspiration,
Your contribution will leave a legacy of innovation.

https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2023/01/26/keivan-stassun-appointed-to-national-science-board-by-president-joe-biden/

Possibility-Mindset

Possibility has always been a big driving force of the more positive aspects of my life (Hari-As-Possibility), so it had inspired a series of poems written over the years. Here is one. 

Possibility Mindset

A possibility-mindset is key

Unlocking doors, sight unseen

A fuel that drives us to believe

Anything is possible

We conceive not just perceive

…. travel those possibilities into doors of opportunity

Possibility Mindset…

….the spark that ignites our passion

… the fire that burns within

It's the courage to 

…  take a stand

…  strength to begin

…..chase our dreams

And find success in the things we seek

With a possibility mindset, there's nothing

That we can't achieve it seems

Joy is the peace that comes from forgiveness and letting go of grudges

Contemplation, one line a day. #MentalHealth

 

Snow Flurry

Ice from the clouds, in a frozen rain
A snow flurry falls, with a icy refrain
Pebbles of spray, scatter with a sound
On the ground, they patter all around.

To college I must still go
LASR lab awaits me, with experiments to unfold
EEG and sMRI, knowledge to behold