Neurotransmitters Flow in this Autism Mind

Has anyone dropped this?

On my recent flight:
Flight Attendant (from front of plane): "Has anyone dropped this?"

All the passengers looked up.

Flight Attendant:
It works everytime!! (smiling).
Now that we have your attention, we'll start the safety announcements.

Be intentional with your interactions

Good tip at Diversity and Inclusion talk today at Vandy

Image shows lecture hall screen with words "Be intentional with your interactions" which inspired a poem.

Be intentional with your interactions,

word, gesture, every reaction,

in these small moments... connections are made

impact on others, never understated.

Choose your words with care,

filled with kindness and empathy,

power of words can hurt or heal,

And can shape the way others see you.

Be present in every interaction,

Listen with an open heart and mind,

For in truly hearing others,

We can learn, grow, and be kind.

Let your interactions be intentional,

Watch them ripple out,

Making a positive impact,

On all those around about.

Flat Effect in Autism

Flat affect, sometimes referred to as "flat effect," is characterized by reduced emotional expressiveness. This manifests through limited facial expressions, a lack of prosodic variation in speech, and minimal gestural communication that typically conveys emotions during social interactions. Flat affect is common among some autistic individuals, presenting unique challenges in social communication and interaction.

Manifestations of Flat Affect

Flat affect can be identified by several observable behaviors:

Facial Expressions: Autistic individuals with flat affect might not exhibit the typical range of facial expressions, such as smiling or frowning.
Prosodic Variation: Their speech might lack the usual variations in tone, often sounding monotone or emotionally flat.
Gestural Communication: They might use fewer hand movements or other gestures while speaking, which are typically used to convey emotions and emphasis.

Emotional Experience vs. Expression

It's crucial to understand that flat affect does not imply a reduction in the intensity or frequency of experienced emotions. Autistic individuals with flat affect experience emotions similarly to others; however, their outward presentation of these affective states is muted. This can lead to misunderstandings in social interactions, where others might perceive them as uninterested or disengaged, even when they are emotionally involved.

Challenges in Social Interactions

The muted emotional expressiveness associated with flat affect can complicate social interactions. Nonverbal cues, such as facial expressions and tone of voice, play a significant role in how we communicate and understand each other. When these cues are diminished, it becomes harder for others to interpret the emotional states and intentions of individuals with flat affect, potentially leading to social isolation and miscommunication.

Neuroscientific Insights

From a neuroscientific standpoint, flat affect in autism can be understood through the lens of atypical neural processing and connectivity. Research suggests that autistic individuals may exhibit differences in the activation and connectivity of brain regions involved in emotion processing and expression. Key areas implicated include:

Amygdala: The amygdala plays a crucial role in processing emotions. Studies have shown that autistic individuals may have differences in amygdala activation and connectivity, contributing to atypical emotional responses and expressions (Baron-Cohen et al., 2000; Tottenham et al., 2014).
Prefrontal Cortex: The prefrontal cortex is involved in regulating emotional responses and social behavior. Atypical activity in this region may influence the ability to modulate and express emotions effectively (Di Martino et al., 2009).
Mirror Neuron System: The mirror neuron system is believed to be involved in understanding and mimicking the emotions and actions of others. Differences in the functioning of this system in autistic individuals may impact their ability to express emotions through gestures and facial expressions (Dapretto et al., 2006).

Implications for Understanding and Support

Understanding flat affect and its underlying mechanisms is essential for improving social interactions and support for autistic individuals. Here are some practical steps:

Education and Awareness: Educating peers, educators, and healthcare providers about flat affect can foster a more empathetic and supportive environment. Awareness can help mitigate misunderstandings and reduce social isolation.
Communication Strategies: Developing alternative communication strategies, such as using clear verbal cues and seeking explicit feedback, can enhance interactions with individuals exhibiting flat affect.
Supportive Interventions: Therapeutic interventions, such as social skills training and emotion recognition exercises, can help autistic individuals navigate social situations more effectively.

References

Baron-Cohen, S., Ring, H. A., Wheelwright, S., Bullmore, E. T., Brammer, M. J., Simmons, A., & Williams, S. C. (2000). The amygdala theory of autism. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 24(3), 355-364.
Di Martino, A., Ross, K., Uddin, L. Q., Sklar, A. B., Castellanos, F. X., & Milham, M. P. (2009). Functional brain correlates of social and nonsocial processes in autism spectrum disorders: An activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis. Biological Psychiatry, 65(1), 63-74.
Dapretto, M., Davies, M. S., Pfeifer, J. H., Scott, A. A., Sigman, M., Bookheimer, S. Y., & Iacoboni, M. (2006). Understanding emotions in others: Mirror neuron dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorders. Nature Neuroscience, 9(1), 28-30.
Tottenham, N., & Gabard-Durnam, L. (2014). The developing amygdala: A student of the world and a teacher of the cortex. Current Opinion in Psychology, 17, 55-60.

At the Frist Center

Grandparents and the Queen

Grandparents and the Queen
Late grandpa Raghavan and grandma Pushpa got invited to.meet the queen on her yacht. then also got a card from her 35 years later.

This time last year

Attending at Cal football game at Memorial Stadium.

Have to get around to attending games at new school. Still adjusting and figuring my way around. Takes time, Autism and transitions are the not the best of bedfellows.

This time last year

At the RadMad Disability Lab at UC Berkeley

A VBI webpage

I have a VBI webpage.

Nice.

This time last year

Sitting in class with my Haas Scholars Cohort at UC Berkeley

Environment and Autism

Participated in an NIEHS session today which looks at role of environment in autism. Interesting discussion.

https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/supported/health/autism/index.cfm

Number 13

https://news.vanderbilt.edu/2022/09/12/2023usnewsbestcolleges/

https://www.usnews.com/best-colleges

Vanderbilt is ranked 13th among national universities on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 Best Colleges list. The university—moving up one spot from last year to its best-ever overall U.S. News ranking—also was recognized as a best value and as a stellar learning community.

They Can and They Will

On my facebook feed

Well said Paul - "... have a child or young adult with autism -ANYTHING is possible! Don’t let any teacher , family member “ friend” or anyone say your child can “ never” do x y or z . They can , and they will."

Citi Training

Enrolled in the Good Clinical Practices course needed for my lab rotation.

How Two Mischievous Deer and a Fawn took over a backyard!

(a humorous skit on the backyard deer seen in from my Nashville home)

How Two Mischievous Deer and a Fawn took over a backyard!

One sunny afternoon, two majestic deer with large antlers, Antler McDeerface and Staggy McStagface, stepped out of the woods to grub on some clover grass in somebody's backyard.

Simple Beginnings

Got my own personalized Labcoat at the Simple Beginnings Ceremony today for incoming PhD students.

The term Simple Beginnings is taken from the end of Darwin's epic work as he has had such an impact on scientific thinking in the last 150 years.

This labcoat is so beyond cool. A labcoat for me symbolizes access to mainstream education.

Grad school is intense which super exciting and metaphorical fingers crossed I can succeed and get to do meaningful, ethical and impactful research (metaphorical as fingers crossed is not an easy motor-planning movement for me)

Image 1: Program head Dr Bruce Carter at podium announcing each student and their research interests. Kate Stuart, (Director of strategic affairs and events with Biomedical Research Education and Training) putting on my personalized lab coat. putting on my personalized lab coat. Audience and other students lined up in foreground.

Image 2/3. Sitting in audience before/after I got lab coat. Close up.of labcoat with my name embroidered. Other side of coat says Vanderbilt school.of medicine.

California Magazine

https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/2022-fall/i-am-a-minimally-speaking-person-who-was-not-expected-to-go-to-college-now-hes-getting-his-phd/

DREDF Spotlight

This month is Disability Rights. Thrilled to be on the same board with the likes of living disability legends like Judy Heumann. What an honor to be invited.

https://mailchi.mp/dredf/dredf-monthly-august-22

Hari Srinivasan joins the DREDF Board of Directors.

Hari Srinivasan just moved from Berkeley to Nashville, but we're lucky that he's staying connected to Berkeley by joining DREDF's Board of Directors. Hari has autism and ADHD with very limited speech ability, and primarily uses Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) to communicate. He is a Ph.D. Neuroscience student at Vanderbilt University, a PD Soros Fellow, and a Fellow at the Frist Center for Autism and Innovation. Hari graduated from UC Berkeley in 2022 as a University Medal Finalist, along with a Departmental Citation Award, Highest Honors, Phi Beta Kappa, and Psi Chi. As an undergraduate Haas Scholar, he carried out a year-long independent funded research on awe and empathy in autism. He also served as student president of the Berkeley campus organization Autism: Spectrum at Cal, stressing the idea of autism needing to go beyond mere Awareness, Acceptance, and Inclusion and towards Belonging. Hari's other affiliations include serving on the board of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network, and as a Non Federal Committee member of the Interagency Coordinating Committee (IACC). He is also a member of the Council of Autistic Advisors for the Autism Society of America and sits on the Community Advisory Board for The Brain Foundation.