Board index › General Discussion › General Autism Discussion

'Brain stimulation boosts social skills in autism'

Page 1 of 2 [ 18 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

Previous topic | Next topic

Stripeycat
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

User avatar

Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Gender: Female
Posts: 30
Location: South Yorkshire (UK)

01 Nov 2013, 1:16 pm

I thought people might be interested in this article in New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... nPshxC9I4M



b_edward
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

User avatar

Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 244

01 Nov 2013, 1:58 pm

I had a theory that if you have AS (or ASD, etc.) + Bipolar, then when you are on the manic side of BP it can boost your social skills. I think this article may indirectly support my theory.



Willard
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Age: 65
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,647

01 Nov 2013, 2:02 pm

:lmao: And lobotomies help with aggressive behaviors, too. Every week it's something new. Did you read the article about the cream you rub on your skin that cures autism? :roll:

Pardon my skepticism. I don't really want my personality 'cured.' I've had it too long. :wink:



StarCity
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 5 Sep 2013
Age: 49
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,141
Location: England, UK

01 Nov 2013, 2:21 pm

I found the article very interesting. Thank you for posting it Stripeycat.


_________________
We, the people on the Autistic Spectrum have a choice.
We can either try to "fit in" with the rest of society, or we can be so egocentric that we can't be bothered.
I choose the actor. I observe NT's. I listen to their socializing. I practice it, so in social situations I can just emulate/mimic what is expected.
It isn't natural for me, but it enables me to "fit in".
It is VERY tiring and draining, but at least we can appear like them even though it is an act. Like being on the stage.
They can't see it is emulation, and so we are accepted.


JitakuKeibiinB
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 28 Jul 2012
Age: 32
Gender: Male
Posts: 714

01 Nov 2013, 3:57 pm

Oh, she made tea for her sibling. This is HUGE. :roll:



JSBACHlover
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 19 Oct 2013
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,282

01 Nov 2013, 9:42 pm

Stripeycat wrote:
I thought people might be interested in this article in New Scientist: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg2 ... nPshxC9I4M


So I have to put magnets on my head to make tea? Strangest Rube Goldberg contraption ever.



b_edward
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

User avatar

Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 244

01 Nov 2013, 9:45 pm

Hey, if I get to put magnets on my head then my life's dream has finally be fulfilled. The rest of the details be damned.



Dillogic
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 24 Nov 2011
Gender: Male
Posts: 9,339

01 Nov 2013, 10:06 pm

Thanks, so I now know to avoid brain stimulation.



realityIs
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker

User avatar

Joined: 19 Oct 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 66
Location: The Twilight Zone

01 Nov 2013, 10:35 pm

JitakuKeibiinB wrote:
Oh, she made tea for her sibling. This is HUGE. :roll:



And even at that, they are speculating why she made tea. Maybe having some contraption on her head for that time started her thinking about the machine and what it was doing, and maybe she thought about the tea machine and wanted to use it.

I am not so sure we can infer greater sociability here.



pensieve
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,204
Location: Sydney, Australia

01 Nov 2013, 11:59 pm

b_edward wrote:
I had a theory that if you have AS (or ASD, etc.) + Bipolar, then when you are on the manic side of BP it can boost your social skills. I think this article may indirectly support my theory.


When I'm manic I'm more social.

Ritalin also made me more able to socialise.

Mental tasks put me in a good mood. Perhaps a raised level of dopamine? I've actually found playing a little game on my iPod before taking photos of a live band put me more at ease. I seem to be more willing to talk to people afterwards too.


_________________
My band photography blog - http://lostthroughthelens.wordpress.com/
My personal blog - http://helptheywantmetosocialise.wordpress.com/


pensieve
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 18 Nov 2008
Age: 38
Gender: Female
Posts: 8,204
Location: Sydney, Australia

02 Nov 2013, 12:03 am

Willard wrote:
:lmao: And lobotomies help with aggressive behaviors, too. Every week it's something new. Did you read the article about the cream you rub on your skin that cures autism? :roll:

Pardon my skepticism. I don't really want my personality 'cured.' I've had it too long. :wink:


I don't think they are talking about a cure. It just raises social ability.

Either way, I really feel like some tea now. I might make a cup for my sister.


_________________
My band photography blog - http://lostthroughthelens.wordpress.com/
My personal blog - http://helptheywantmetosocialise.wordpress.com/


b_edward
Sea Gull
Sea Gull

User avatar

Joined: 26 Mar 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 244

02 Nov 2013, 12:31 am

Quote:
Did you read the article about the cream you rub on your skin that cures autism? :roll:


Before my youngest was diagnosed with PDD(nos) I had a friend of the family tell us that we just needed to put frankincense on his temples and the souls of his feet, and that would make him start talking.



Stripeycat
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse

User avatar

Joined: 15 Jun 2013
Gender: Female
Posts: 30
Location: South Yorkshire (UK)

02 Nov 2013, 6:50 am

I think making tea for other people must hold a significance for NT people, in English and American culture at least. In my experience, when guests arrive at someone's house the host offers them a drink, which usually turns out to be tea. My (borderline aspie) mum often used to offer me a cup of tea when I was upset, until I told her I found this annoyingly illogical (I'm never upset about a lack of tea). I asked my dad about it and it said it shows you care about someone. And in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon has to offer someone a hot beverage if they're upset.

What I found really interesting about the article was the fact that the participants' social skills improved without them making a conscious effort to learn them, and the fact that they didn't improve at the theory of mind test.

I find the idea of the treatment really unpleasant. I don't want someone interfering with my brain to make me act like an NT. But if there was a fast-acting, short-term form of the treatment I can imagine myself using it before a job interview or an event where I had to 'network', as long as I was sure I would be myself again once the effects wore off.



MaxE
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 2 Sep 2013
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,409
Location: Mid-Atlantic US

02 Nov 2013, 7:03 am

I attended a lecture by John Elder Robison in which he claimed to have had magnetic fields applied to his brain. I don't recall the details.



grahamguitarman
Velociraptor
Velociraptor

User avatar

Joined: 19 Mar 2013
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Posts: 458

02 Nov 2013, 7:34 am

I'll be damned if I'm going to walk around with magnets strapped to my head 8O even if it does mean I can make a cup of tea :roll:


_________________
Autistic dad to an autistic boy and loving it - its always fun in our house :)

I have Autism. My communication difficulties mean that I sometimes get words wrong, that what I mean is not what comes out.


Joe90
Veteran
Veteran

User avatar

Joined: 23 Feb 2010
Gender: Female
Posts: 26,492
Location: UK

02 Nov 2013, 10:13 am

Ahhh! Give it to me!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! ! Social life, here I come!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !


_________________
Female