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| What do you think is the most plausible theory of Asperger's syndrome? |
| Extreme male brain: System over empathizing |
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8% |
[ 7 ] |
| Weak central coherence/singular focus of attention/cognition |
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6% |
[ 5 ] |
| Perinatal brain trauma |
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1% |
[ 1 ] |
| Sensory disintegration/hyper- or hypo-sensitivities |
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15% |
[ 13 ] |
| Uneven brain development |
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13% |
[ 11 ] |
| Infant neglect/abuse or other psychosocial trauma |
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2% |
[ 2 ] |
| Anxiety or emotional hyperarousal |
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0% |
[ 0 ] |
| Extreme introversion |
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7% |
[ 6 ] |
| Different causes for different symptoms—really many conditions |
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45% |
[ 37 ] |
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| Total Votes : 82 |
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| Author |
Message |
NeantHumain
Phoenix
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Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 3591
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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 Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: What Is the Core of Asperger's Syndrome? |
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Often we discuss common interests or quirks, and many of these may have some correlation with Asperger's syndrome; but we rarely discuss what captures the essential quality of having Asperger's syndrome. Many theories exist, but none of them have overwhelming evidence in their favor yet. We know genes and environment play a role, but we can say that about most phenotypes. Vote and then explain your rationale.
Note that in some cases, the different theories may both be true but explain things at different layers of abstraction; if you think this is so, just pick the one you like best.  |
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NeantHumain
Phoenix
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Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 3591
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject: Mirror Neurons |
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| Drat! I forgot to include "Faulty mirror neurons" in the poll. Oh well, there are plenty more choices to choose from! |
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asplanet
Phoenix
Joined: Nov 11, 2007
Posts: 1759
Location: Cyberspace, New Zealand
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:51 pm Post subject: |
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I think there are just 2 sets of people on this planet and we both just think differently, of course like everyone else we are affected by our up bringing, environment, associated conditions etc...
To me Autism is like a web which is in the center and around it just some of the associated conditions people can have PDD, OCD, Social phobia, Anxiety, Bipolar, ADHD, ADD, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, Tourettes Syndrome, speech disorders… It seems to depend on who you see, is what you get diagnosed with!
_________________
"Believe in your self, we are who we are - as it can feel like an endless task trying to be someone else!" Alyson Bradley ...
Aspergers Parallel Planet web site - http://asplanet.info/index.php
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2ukenkerl
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 20, 2007
Posts: 4587
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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OK, for me(WHat applies to ME):
Extreme male brain: System over empathizing MAYBE
Weak central coherence,
singular focus of attention YES
Perinatal brain trauma NON KNOWN
Sensory disintegration/hyper- or hypo-sensitivities YES
Uneven brain development Basically, NO
Infant neglect/abuse or other psychosocial trauma YES
Anxiety or emotional hyperarousal YES
Extreme introversion YES |
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pakled
"Bless his Heart"
Joined: Nov 13, 2007
Age: 50
Posts: 2724
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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What? no fragile x syndrome? there was an article in Time that said it might be the cause of it...
I think it's a lot more complicated, but eventually we'll know more. |
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2ukenkerl
Phoenix
Joined: Jul 20, 2007
Posts: 4587
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| pakled wrote: | What? no fragile x syndrome? there was an article in Time that said it might be the cause of it...
I think it's a lot more complicated, but eventually we'll know more. |
Since Fragile X is NOT autism, and would hurt some things some autistics have, we know THAT isn't it. |
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MrMark
Abstract Data Type
Joined: Jul 04, 2006
Age: 50
Posts: 9410
Location: Tallahassee, FL
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I voted different causes, but I like mirror neurons too.
_________________
"It dives in shallows for beakfuls of moss, heads to sandy isles to preen its feathers. It was ready to fly off all by itself, then found its reflection and lingered."
- Xie Tiao |
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NeantHumain
Phoenix
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Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 3591
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:04 pm Post subject: |
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| pakled wrote: | What? no fragile x syndrome? there was an article in Time that said it might be the cause of it...
I think it's a lot more complicated, but eventually we'll know more. |
Because Fragile X syndrome is only the cause of autism for people with Fragile X syndrome. Most people on the autism spectrum do not have Fragile X syndrome. |
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NeantHumain
Phoenix
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Joined: Jun 25, 2004
Posts: 3591
Location: St. Louis, Missouri
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I knew I should have left out "Different causes for different symptoms..." Whenever I make these polls and include a vague or miscellaneous option, most people here end up taking it because they have some caveat to their understanding. Forced choice makes people choose the "best" answer among several contenders. When everyone lumps over to the most generic option, the poll becomes meaningless. |
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SilverStar
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: May 13, 2008
Age: 28
Posts: 26
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:47 pm Post subject: |
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I would have to guess that genetics is a very likely cause. The environment someone is subjected to, and/or difficulties caused by the primary disorder(s), probably leads to the secondary disorders like anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc...
One theory of mine is that one or both parents carry a cluster of certain genes that cause a range of similar problems (whether they be active or inactive). When the child is concieved, each parent "throws their genes into a hat" and nature randomally picks a set. When a certain combination is picked, this is when you get Autism, Asperger's, etc. Let me know what you guys think of this idea. |
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Greentea
Bull in China Shop par Excellence!
Joined: Jun 15, 2007
Posts: 2148
Location: Middle East
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:00 pm Post subject: |
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I believe it's a mutant gene.
Not saying it's necessarily evolutional, but a different gene. If everyone was dark-haired and just one in 1000 people was blond, they'd have trouble finding and keeping a job, friends, etc. too. They'd too be constantly analyzed for what's wrong with them. The only difference between blondes and Aspies is that we're a very small minority.
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"It is the wounded oyster that mends its shell with pearl" - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Social_Fantom
Unmasked
Joined: Feb 23, 2008
Age: 24
Posts: 11374
Location: In the shadows, waiting for my chance to strike
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| Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2008 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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It varies with the individual, so it could be all kinds of things.
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Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.
-Confucius
5th Sin: Wrath |
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Aspinator
Yellow-bellied Woodpecker
Joined: Feb 24, 2008
Posts: 74
Location: AspinatorLand
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:12 am Post subject: Extreme Introversion |
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| There are extroverted and introverted Aspies just as the case with NTs so extreme introversion is not even a viable choice. |
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IdahoRose
Imaginary Friend
Joined: Feb 25, 2007
Age: 17
Posts: 4425
Location: Boise, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 12:45 am Post subject: |
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| I know for a fact it's not neglect, abuse or trauma; because I grew up in a very loving, safe home and yet I've got Asperger's to such a degree that I can't function on my own. |
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Belfast
Vast Ambivalence
Joined: Jul 18, 2005
Age: 35
Posts: 1683
Location: New England
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| Posted: Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:22 am Post subject: |
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| NeantHumain wrote: | | I knew I should have left out "Different causes for different symptoms..." Whenever I make these polls and include a vague or miscellaneous option, most people here end up taking it because they have some caveat to their understanding. Forced choice makes people choose the "best" answer among several contenders. When everyone lumps over to the most generic option, the poll becomes meaningless. |
If you hadn't put that last option, I wouldn't have even voted in poll.
There are things in common between points on the spectrum, but our (humans, collectively) understanding of the nuances and variations within ASD's are still insufficient, the manifestations/expressions in each individual can be quite dissimilar from each other. So, it's possible some of the quarrel/controversy/disjuncture-about "what counts" as an ASD or who "really" does have it-is based on lumping together broad range of "conditions" (hard to find neutral enough sounding word other than syndrome) that can be distinguished from one another. Lest I be accused of being divisive-I acknowledge that all folks contain both deficits & strengths-a complex profile, an individual is not simply all "high" or all "low" functioning.
Anyway, disclaimer aside...some details/aspects of this or that idea do & do not make sense to me-I don't subscribe to any particular theory in entirety. Can't choose or exclude (in whichever minor or major portion of population) a factor-only address what I know about my own self.
Being just one person, I'm a statistically insignificant number from which to extrapolate as to the whole range of individuals on the spectrum-yet I'm all I've got (first-hand), everything else I know about ASD's is from reading. No way to guess which "symptoms" came first, what experiences or perceptions are instances of correlation vs. causation (or both-symbiotically, synergistically), or if all the "difficult differences" simultaneously appeared in my neurology. Unable to see inside my own biology to find out why I am however it is that I am.
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*"You cannot administer a wicked law impartially-it destroys everyone it touches, its violators as well as its upholders."* |
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