Neanderthal Theory of Autism and Aspie Quiz?

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Hey, it's been an INSANELY long time since I've been on WP. Former handle, "Sophist," for any old timers here who might remember me. I think I first joined in 2004 or something like that.

Anyways, I was just kind of curious: Are the younger autie generations still familiar with the Neanderthal Theory of Autism? I remember the Aspie Quiz was super popular on WP and other sites: http://www.rdos.net/eng/Aspie-quiz.php

Is this still a "thing"? Or has this kind of been lost to an earlier autie generation?

For context, I have some research coming out probably in the fall that might be somewhat relevant to all this and I wanted to gauge how the autistic community might receive it.

Thanks for your input!

That test is still a "thing".

Some folks even have the snap shot of that resulting graph as the picture in their profile.

Though, come to think of it, folks dont talk about it as often as they used to.

It always has me as "likely NT" even though I was officially diagnosed with aspergers.

The Neanderthal theory of autism was a hot topic, but faded away.

I am into anthropology so I personally am interested in human evolution as a subject. So you can chat me about it if you want.

The quiz is still a thing.
This is my score from when I joined here in 2017.
I'm diagnosed Level 2 ASD.

I don't know about the Neanderthal Theory but I can imagine what it is.

What is the Neanderthal Theory of Autism?

The current concensus among anthropologists is that modern humans came out of Africa, but that there were Archaic humans already living in the north in Europe and Asia (ie Neanderthals, and Denisovans etc). The anatomical moderns drove the later to extinction and replaced them,and there is only us, but not without having some hanky-panky between the groups first. This resulted in modern humans living outside of Africa have traces of Archaic DNA (like Neanderthal, Denisovan). One, two, or more percent.

Neanderthals seemed to have had a slightly different "bio-psychology" than us. Lived in smaller bands, and their bands didnt interact with other bands as much to form alliances as did those of the anatomically moderns. There is less evidence of long distance trade among Neanderthals than there is between Paleolitic modern type folks (and hunter gatherers of today). You didnt find sea shell necklaces in the graves of inland Neanderthals like you do find in those of Upper Paleolithic hunter gatherers living hundreds of miles from the sea (or in modern isolated tribes in the highlands of New Guinea away from the sea either), for example.

So some have suggested that Neanderthals were more "autistic" in their normal behavior(less into schmoozing and networking and forming diplomatic alliances and salesmanship etc than anatomically modern people even in the stone age). And thus modern autism maybe a legacy of having these traces of Neanderthal genes.

I am skeptical of the theory, but it does have a certain logic to it.

Thanks Natural Plastic! I've never heard of that before.

I did however read that Neanderthals apparently were very logical, straightforward and sensible, and when they met Homo Sapiens they were thrown off balance by how irrational, random, daring and risky they were. So Neanderthals were continuing to live as they'd always done, step by step, being sensible. And Homo Sapiens were saying 'hey! What if we did it this way? What if I jump off that cliff? What if I trap that tiger in a pit?' etc. and doing stupid/dangerous things.

And Homo Sapiens just out-thought Neanderthals, bamboozled them with their weird and irrational ideas until they just overwhelmed and outbred the Neanderthals.

It could be, couldn't it.

I have had my DNA tested however and I have a normal amount of Neanderthal DNA (1-2%) so I'm not unusual. It would have to be how strong the genes were, I suppose?

Ditto!

And as reasonable as it sounds, it also sounds like it is very short of scientific evidence.

After "they" have a better understanding of Autism's genetic basis then the theory could be tested.

And then I hope the theory is supported by the facts...I would love to have more reasons to think I am different from NTs.

═══════════════════════════════

AQ: Your score was 40 out of a possible 50.
AQ: Scores in the 33-50 range indicate significant Autistic traits (Autism).

RDOS:
Your broader autism cluster (Aspie) score: 137 of 200
Your neurotypical (non-autistic) score: 62 of 200
You are very likely on the broader autism cluster (Aspie)

But it was the psychologist who did a formal Adult Autism Assessment that convinced me!

Last edited by Double Retired on 28 Jun 2023, 9:16 am, edited 2 times in total.

yes it would be nice to have scientific evidence and logical reasons for autism wouldn't it. I think people would believe us more.

As I said, I had my DNA tested and I'm no more Neanderthal than any other modern humans, so...

I subscribe to the goblin theory of autism.

Both that and the Neanderthal theory are all wet.

There can be no doubt that autistics are all descendants of the fallen angels described in Genisis, and that autistics are in fact...the last of the Nephalim!

From Genisis (just before Noah's Flood):

The Nephilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them; the same were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown.[14]

Thanks for catching me up! I've been off fora for awhile now, but wander in once every twelfth blue moon or so. I'm a scientist and professor now, but I was on WP in my "infancy" as a young adult in undergraduate and became familiar with rdos' Neanderthal Theory. I always liked rdos, but I was never that into the theory. I didn't think there was much foundation for it since it was based off of behavioral and some anthropological assumptions. I work largely on genetics nowadays (and some clinical), so I'm more interested in the effects hybridization has on the surviving hybrid species. A lot of times, hybrids aren't just an "additive" process of the two parents, but tend to result in something a bit new.

Anyways, I'm hoping I can post about our work in a few months. I'll have to remember to come back to this thread to follow up.

The theory is very much a case of let’s fix a narrative and work back the logic and evidence to fit.

Don’t explain the genetic problems with autism

There is little scientific evidence backing it up

Like everything these days!

Now Carlos! Pay attention. I assume you are a fan of Carlos Sainz in F1 racing due to your name?

I don’t really watch F1 but as we share the same name I wish him well, just as Mike Tyson said about Tyson Fury who was named after him by his boxing fan dad.

I asked you before but I don't think you replied. Your name got my attention because not only is it Carlos, but 55 is the number of car he runs with. So I thought it was too much of a coincidence for someone to be called Carlos55 when there is a driver called Carlos with number 55 on his car

You`ve got me I'm really Carlos Sainz, just haven't come out autistic yet

No only joking LOL, funny co-incidence though

Be funny if he really comes out an aspie tomorrow & everyone will think i`m him, ill start getting multiple women wanting to be with me for the first time thinking I'm a rich racing driver