Ok, if it really is so that everything about autism originates from abnormal or lack of mirror neurons, I can imagine that NTs have it easy to pick up how to do things by looking at others, while autistics have to figure things out themselves which then boost their intelligence. It can be difficult to connect mirror neurons to sensory issues though. But what is the reason too much stimulation of a kind can be so hurtfull really?
I am maybe not the right to speculate about it because I dont feel I have many sensory issues myself, but Im guessing it is because they who experience the the overstimulation do not know how to react to the stimulation like NTs would by looking at others, which then makes it a stressfull situation.
Sounds too far fetched? Or?
No,that was a good post
I was explained by the person who's dx-ing me that with most NT people, one sensory imput is processed in one part of the brain i.e. in the appropriate part. With lots of AS people (not only AS) one sensory imput is processed at different parts of the brain simultaneously. (like with synesthesia) So the brain has to work twice, or even more, as hard. This can be very exhausting.
It also is possible that one sensory imput is processed by one part of the brain, but not the appropriate part. Like using intellect for social interacting where NT's can use the super neurons. This is a lot more work. There is no superneuron shortcut. Everything has to be processed.
But does this work both ways? Would lots of NT people experience some overload when they try to hyperfocus for instance? They seem to get overloaded when someone is talking and talking about their special interest.
I guess they feel uncomfortable and don't know how to respond, yeah similar.
Maybe the mirror neurons can be trained if caught early enough?
My daughter who's an Aspie (16) took ballet and tap when she was about 6-7. She could do everything the other girls did, and with grace, but a second or two later. I also insisted she played tennis with me for about 2-3 years and she took lessons (this was when I thought she was merely ADHD or ADD). She did well in tennis, just hating running too much.
Are mirror neurons used when singing? I forgot she took "Kindermusik" when about 5. She has a sweet voice.
She now does nothing, or next to nothing, except some short walks. At camp though she has endless energy and can walk quickly so I think a lot of it is mental (the excitement of the moment).
So not all autists are clumsy and awkward.
I'm abit sceptical to treatments that are said to be the most efficient in younger age. Sure, early might be great, it is just that autistic children develop really fast in that period no matter what treatment they receive, and parents will often claim that it was a result of a treatment.
I'm abit sceptical to treatments that are said to be the most efficient in younger age. Sure, early might be great, it is just that autistic children develop really fast in that period no matter what treatment they receive, and parents will often claim that it was a result of a treatment.
I agree. Autistic kids grow up, too. It is a different path, perhaps, but it is traveled regardless. This was the thing that totally griped my butt with Jenny M on Oprah, this idea that the changes in her son from age 2 to age 5 were because she did a bunch of "stuff," no credit for the kid just growing up.
I'm not sure about the "mirror neurons" idea. Has anybody actually found them or are they a theoretical construct or an abstraction? I think the idea that we are missing some connections between the left and right sides of the brain makes a bit more sense because this would explain to a degree why we have difficulty picking up on subtle social cues (if the connections are missing in the prefrontal cortex, which controls things such as emotions)