new discovery of how autistic brains different

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I'm not surprised that their research suggests many different causes for autism. One theory I came across suggests that most neurological differences can be caused all by the same thing, and that is the brains own immune system. I read that the brain damages itself on an immune reaction, but it can recover. The problem here is that foreign substances can cause a mayhem in an underdeveloped brain and can lead to some serious issues. Something as simple as a woman being sick while pregnant with her child could lead to an autistic child, according to this theory.

Whether any of this has merit or not, I don't know. I don't read enough on anything. It's just not surprising to me.

Melatonin deficit is directly related to excessive seratonin. Those levels vary daily. Some days my daughter needs 1mg some nights she needs 3mg. At 9yo she can tell me how much she thinks she needs. Some people do great on it - I suspect that is just confirmation that there is a core population of ASD's that have the melatonin deficiency. But there are also those that report rage issues with it. I use it when my head is racing and there is no sleep in sight. I REALLY could have used this as a kid...

The other corrolation - excessive seratonin is the major identifying factor in clinical depression. One of ASD's more common comorbids and not a coincidence in my opinion. While in the general population this neurotransmitter upset could be caused by external stressors, I suspect that in ASD's it is an intrincic neurotransmitter and/or receptor malfunction. I've had bouts of depression since I was a kid not necessarily related to things in my life getting me down although at those times it is a sure thing the balance will be tipped. I can literally feel the meds correct the overload - it feels like a mini Waterloo in my head - and my mood just lightens like magic. It's definitely chemical for me although my psychs say 'that is impossible to tell'... they also end up saying 'wow - I've never seen that' when my mood is night and day within 2 weeks.

Two things I want to do before I die:
1. Get to have an fMRI done on my brain so I can have a picture of my brain to hang on my wall.
2. Get to have Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) done on my brain for fun, to see what it feels like to have a brain region become temporarily non-functional.

I really want to get TMS done on my Broca's area or Wernicke's area. I saw a recent video where some scientist got TMS done on his speech areas (for demonstration) while counting to 20, and, when the magnet was on, he went from counting numbers to making nonsense/gibberish sounds. Then, when the magnet was turned off, he instantly went back to counting numbers. He never skipped a number in his count. This makes me curious what it feels like- when the magnet is on, would you still THINK the real number sound in your head and HEAR it inside your thoughts? Because this guy acted like he didn't even notice anything happened.

TMS needs to be used more often in research than it is. It is an absolutely brilliant process. You essentially can create lesions in humans without the use of surgery or cerebrovascular injury. That's amazing.