Whats it mean when Autistic ppl's brains R wired Different?

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Panic
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09 Nov 2011, 12:43 am

what exactly is wired so different then NTs brains?

I thought that AS and Ausitm was that the wiring is all messed up and parts are dead and not working properly and have low activity in certain parts of the brain,

ppl are always saying that to fix AS you have to rewire the brain, are they mistaken?

or is it that you need a brain transplant to solve AS,

What is AS exactly?

A Neural difference :?: ?

Different neurons?



Ganondox
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09 Nov 2011, 12:59 am

It saying that AS cannot be cured as our brains are different on a structural level (neurons connect differently and stuff, the brain is perfectly healthy, just different) so curing it would require completely scrambling up the brain, and our thought processes are fundementally different from an NT so even if it could be cured curing it would destroy the individual.


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09 Nov 2011, 4:28 am

One difference is that autistic brains have shorter, more numerous connections than NT brains, which has a variety of effects on autistic thinking. Where an NT might make a direct association between two concepts, we tend to take a more roundabout course.



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09 Nov 2011, 4:43 am

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asperger_s ... #Mechanism

Under "Mechanism" of the above article:
"Although the specific underpinnings of AS or factors that distinguish it from other ASDs are unknown, and no clear pathology common to individuals with AS has emerged,[3] it is still possible that AS's mechanism is separate from other ASDs.[48] Neuroanatomical studies and the associations with teratogens strongly suggest that the mechanism includes alteration of brain development soon after conception.[45] Abnormal migration of embryonic cells during fetal development may affect the final structure and connectivity of the brain, resulting in alterations in the neural circuits that control thought and behavior.[49] Several theories of mechanism are available; none are likely to provide a complete explanation.[50]"

-Reposted with the understanding that Wikipedia is a free resource, will be removed if requested, or Mods deem it necessary Im sure.

The questions you ask, many of them have no real answers yet (Or rather the answers are there, but we don't understand them well enough to explain them in absolute finality), just speculation from a medical community seemingly interested in making money by trying to help people "Feel better" about trying to "Cure" or otherwise deal with "Substandard Fetus'" by a variety of methods......

Neurons are Neurons, they're the same for everyone, the only difference between Spectrum vs not is, To the Best of my knowledge, the # of them present in the brain.

"What is AS exactly? "
To this, the simplest answer I can give, is that like so many other "personality disorders", it is a set of traits recognized in people, from external sources (Other people), as being different from themselves/the Social "norm". Basically AS is something that could have gotten you sent to a Psychiatric ward 70 or so years ago. Now it *Might* qualify you for a disability pay check.

"or is it that you need a brain transplant to solve AS, "
Thats like asking if you need Leg Transplants to "solve" Fast/Slow Running speed. There are simply attributes that affect your running speed, IMHO, just as there are Attributes that affect whether you have AS (Though be warned, this answer is speculatory on my part).



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09 Nov 2011, 7:34 am

It means that we have more but shorter neurons and that our brains are 10-15 percent larger than those of the NT population.


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09 Nov 2011, 7:43 am

I don't know the neurologicals ins and outs of the autistic brain, however I think that the pathways between parts of the brain function differently to our NT peers. It is interesting to look at cases where a person has either been born with a part of their brain missing (Kim Peek being the most famous) or when they have had some removed for medical reasons. One woman who was having thousands of seizures a day had a large part of her brain removed as it was covered in tumours. Part of the brain that was removed held long term memory. When the long term memory part of her brain was lost, the short term memory took over. As a result, she no longer has a short term memory.


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PlatedDrake
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09 Nov 2011, 8:57 am

CockneyRebel wrote:
It means that we have more but shorter neurons and that our brains are 10-15 percent larger than those of the NT population.


I thought the last figure said an average of 5% larger . . .



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09 Nov 2011, 9:14 am

The long distance underconnectivity/ local overconnectivity model isn't the final word in describing the autistic brain. It's just one brain "configuration" among a vast many that can result in autistic behavior.



Joe90
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09 Nov 2011, 11:10 am

I read somewhere that Autistic brains are bigger than NT brains, but I've got a smaller head than average so I'm not sure how a bigger brain can fit into my head.

I also read that Autistic people have some cells missing from their brains so we can't make normal social interaction subconsciously because of the missing cells. (*sigh* :( )

Perhaps I have the intelligence cells missing too, which is why my head is small.


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Asp-Z
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09 Nov 2011, 11:27 am

PPL who Hv Aspergaz can, speil propzzz

:roll:



Shishka
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10 Nov 2011, 5:54 am

Joe90 wrote:
I read somewhere that Autistic brains are bigger than NT brains, but I've got a smaller head than average.


I have a small head too. I'm 19 and my 8 year old NT sister has a bigger head. Makes finding headphones hard, since hardly any of them fit... :?