bjay

No. Would you like me to do some? Let me know. On the website, all I'm giving is a mindset guidance issue - treat it AS IF, because this may help you as a parent, and it may help your child. It's just a help thing. It may not work. Who knows? Would you like me, or others, on the AET, to go more deeply into that issue? And if so why? And can you gather enough others who will fund the research? That would be really useful. Thank you for your kindness, empathy, and interest. And please join us all on the AWARES conference, starting online on November 24th.

Are these what you're looking for? Authors: Belmonte,M.K.; Allen,G. ; Beckel-Mitchener,A.; Boulanger,L.M. ; Carper,R.A.; Webb,S.J. Title: Autism and abnormal development of brain connectivity Periodical, Full: Journal of Neuroscience Pub Year: 2004 Volume: 24 Issue: 42 Start Page: 9228 Other Pages: 9231 Authors: Dawson,M.; Soulières,I.; Gernsbacher,M.A. ; Mottron,L. Title: The level and nature of autistic intelligence Periodical, Full: Psychological Science Pub Year: 2007 Volume: 18 Issue: 8 Start Page: 657 Other Pages: 662

I don't intend to answer any more questions here to people who just want to take pot shots at me, without caring to look at our board and the links. How interesting that the Mods on this forum aren't willing to listen to the latest research on ASC s in the AWARES forum. I think that says it all. But heck - who am I? Just a patronising old epileptic who doesn't know neurology from a tantrum. Hey hey. Whatever. I've been dissed before by bigoted neurotypicals, but never on an ASC board. It's a first. xx

Kathryn, I'm an old woman, with a lifetime behind me and not much time left. If baddad wants answers, he can get them from links to the research papers on our website instead of taking it third hand. I hope you'll all join us on the AWARES online conference next week?

I can live with that. As I'm sure you can. Truce?

As I've said, the question isn't relevant. I'd said, 'treat a meltdown AS IF it is an epileptic seizure' and said in my two alternative answers, because there's a possibility it might be So, you're asking if a neurological incident is a physical thing. Of course it is. Every time you speak, move your hand, blink, make a decision, it's a neurological incident. And it's all under the control of various brain domains. And then, the decision-maker, the pre-frontal cortex, decides what to respond to and what to filter out. And if the connections are sound, it will make the 'typical' decision. But in autism, the 'local processes' are more strongly wired. These are the five senses and the motor cortex. These take precedence over the 'global processing' defined by the pre-frontal cortex which is the filtering system. So, in autism, the local, sensory, processing is alert to everything - over-connected in neuro-speak. This is what causes meltdowns, overload, and whatever. But it can also produce genius. It's an intelligence that's underrated, except in major scientists and mathematicians, because this local, patterned-focussed intelligence, enables the consideration of detail, which is an alternative form of intelligence and is why those on the spectrum don't do well on conventional IQ tests, but can perform brilliantly on Raven's Progressive Matrices, which are a test of fluid, real, intelligence. Autistic intelligence is the ability to construct untaught patterns within a cognitive framework. This is why some autistic children line things up. It's pattern formation for counting. Autistic intelligence is the stuff that Newtonian physics and Einstein theoretics is all about, at its highest level. It's instinctive pattern formation from local processing, without the 'edit for meaning alone' (pre-frontal cortex) button. It is priceless.

It was a question asked of Barry George. Or have you forgotten?

It's the term used by Hans Asperger.

Thank you all.

I hope I haven't done that Kathryn, and I hope I've given true and genuine answers to the questions I've been asked. Can I just point out that baddad said he hadn't looked at the website, and it may really help if he does. Other answers to questions raised are available on our links, which are to many research papers, and to other major sites. Please Kathryn, don't accuse me of being patronising. I have come on to your site and revealed my epilepsy, without any pretense. What's patronising about that? And what is patronising about Debi calling herself 'us' and 'we' when talking about the autistic spectrum on which she finds herself? It isn't 'twee', it's her. I didn't pick up on that comment, because I valued the input. I still value the input. But I have limited time, in all senses of that word. I don't want to be stroked, I want fair comment, and genuine feedback which will help me create a website which will, like my book, and like my PhD, publicise and disseminate the words and thoughts of those on the spectrum, so that everyone can hear. As a life-long epileptic, I've had enough misunderstanding in my own life. And, it appears from some of these posts, I'm still coming in for it, aren't I? Whatever. Thank you.

I'm sure your questions are genuine, and I hope I've given genuine answers. If you don't believe I have then I am very sorry. I am truly grateful for your feedback, which is very useful. Thank you.

Perhaps you and Bid could really try to be rather less literal and definitive and selective in your reading. I know this may be difficult for you to do, and I do understand. I've said all I want to say on this issue, and everything is contained within my posts and the website. If you have a genuine question about neuroscience, or ASCs don't hesitate to ask. And if I can't come up with the answer myself, I'll ask Tony, and pass his answer on to you. If you're asking whether a neurological incident is a physical thing, that sounds as if you don't know much about what the brain is and does. I'm sure that's not true. The 'electrical' explanation for neurology is rather old-fashioned. The issue with ASCs is that local processing is preferred over global processing, because of under- and over-connectivity in different brain domains. Matthew Belmonte, another good friend of mine, has written clearly about this. Read and enjoy. He is a superb researcher and a polymath for whom I have the greatest respect. He worked at ARC with sbc.

Sorry - duplicate. Replace genetic with atypical

Why is it dramatic? I'm sorry, I don't understand. What's dramatic about seizures? They are perfectly normal for the person experiencing them. They are merely neurological incidents. Would it be easier if I said - 'a genuine meltdown is NOT a child-like tantrum, or rage (as Michael Rutter and other describe them) but a neurological incident involving a genetic difference in brain circuitry? Please don't judge them as intentional, any more than you would judge an epileptic seizure as intentional'. Is that better? Daniel Dennett's Intentional Stance has a lot to answer for!

I'll try to get as many replies in here as I can. Please remember I said 'treat a meltdown AS IF it were an epileptic seizure' and I gave two reasons for that. I did NOT say that it WAS, but there's a possibility that it MIGHT be, and that the immediate signs before a genuine meltdown are identical to those before a seizure. Mumble, I'm talking about the moments BEFORE the ACTUAL meltdown. If you look at the site, Debi is very specific about the signs and symptoms of going into a real meltdown, and they're very similar to the signs and symptoms of an imminent seizure - clamminess etc. The actual build up can last for days, due to the problematic connectivity between the limbic system ( particularly the amygdala) and the pre-frontal cortex which means that the affective/cognitive/sensory problems can't be easily dealt with and decisions made about them as they arise. Tony Attwood, my good friend and PhD co-supervisor, calls this build-up in ASC 'lava layers'. Bid - as far as I know there is no research to show that autistic meltdowns are caused by abnormal electrical activity,and I can't see the relevance of your question. Because that's not what I'm saying, is it? I am quite careful about what I say.