My theory on oxytocin in children and people on the spectrum

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I think, although of course this could only be confirmed through neuroimaging of some sort, that oxytocin and various other hormones/neurotransmitters are... obviously, in varying quantities in everyone... but, there must be clear distinctions.

Oxytocin is primarily concentrated in new mothers, if everything goes well and the mind doesn't obsess with either depression or possibly psychosis... it's used to bond with the baby. Now, people with ASD are supposed to lack a theory of mind, i.e. an ability to relate on some simple grounds with another person, which I'm sure mirror neurons are also involved in... the hormone might directly influence the other, not sure, though...

With regards to children... obviously not everyone is alike (I clearly related more to even ants than other people at that age)... but I think most may not have developed mirror neurons, and since they don't need to take care of anyone at all might effectively be the opposite of a new mother.

I just wish I could investigate this in a more scientific way than just these thought experiments...

Below your post this link came up:

http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shot ... rchers-say

But I was about to comment saying something similar anyway.
I have been thoroughly assessed for ASD twice, and am considered so Autistic and with such severe "disorder" parts of the spectrum that I have been ordered to have treatment, perhaps as an in patient of an Autism specialist hospital.

Yet my feelings of Empathy, love and intense hormonal bonding/chemical love rush etc.. it is all immense, has been very overwhelming in various times/areas in my life and caused me major problems with distress for the suffering of others and personal heartache. These functions are OVER developed in me and out of control, it has caused me to be hurt so much I have become psychologically damaged, I now have both pseudo dementia and PTSD to add to me ADD and severe executive function deficits.

I am a mess, but living proof that the oxytocin AND the "extreme male brain" theory are utter nonsense. But then again, Autism is a spectrum! And even where symptoms are the same, the mechanisms underlying them may vary!

Your idea about mirror neurons in itself is interesting, Im sure there are people looking into that. The psychiatrist Ive seen was involved in comprehensive research imaging and measuring parts of the Autistic brain, other people are measuring neurotransmitters/neurohormones for all kinds of psychiatric disorders.

But just as with "extreme male brain" - I dont think speculatively labelling Autistic people are the polar opposite of the mother is at all useful.

What does that make autistic mothers?