Neurology, evolution and autism

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I have a background in biology and am extremely interested in genetics, inheritance, behaviour and evolution. When it comes to autism, we can talk for days about difficulties with interpersonal relationships, but I wonder how is it that the brain functions differently. Why is it that I cannot, as much as I try, have an innate understanding someone's intentions or feelings, when everyone else seems to understand it.

Any recommended [open source] scientific or popular science articles? Anyone wanting to discuss the subject?

I dont know how to do links, and stuff like that.

But if you go to "General Autism" and find the topic called "Something to Consider" (or something like that).

Then click the link provided by the OP it will take you to a National Public Radio pod recast (with text summary) of yesterday's edition of Terri Gross's interview show "Fresh Air". Quite mind blowing interview with an autistic guy, and a scientists who worked on him by experimenting with Magnetic transcranal stimulation. Long story short- the treatment (incredible as this sounds,but it is my understanding of it)temporarily "cured" him of autism (or atleast of his autistic lack of empathy). After some months it came back. But essentially he became a NT for a while, and then reverted. Both improved,and messed up, his life, in many fascinating ways.

Doesnt have much to do with genetics of autism, but a lot to do with the mechanics of it in the brain.

Oh wow, that IS interesting, thank you for the tip!

It is the nature of the beast. Aspies and Auties tend to be mind blind. I cannot introspect no matter how hard I try. I can remember what I did and the latest things I have thought but I cannot backtrack on these to reach my intellectual and emotional basement. As for others I pay attention to what they do and what they say. I am reluctant to impute motives to others. People do what they do and I have not the least idea why they do what they do. I may guess or hypothesize but I never credit my guesses as facts. Ever.

"I may guess or hypothesize but I never credit my guesses as facts. Ever."

This is very wise, I've made a habit of this at times. I suppose I always knew I was different, but didn't fully understand why. I've made an independent study of human behavior, but it's like being blind and learning to drive or watch tv, you're always going to miss something.

That interview suggests to me that autism is an electrical imbalance in the brain. My perception suggests the same, sensory overload might suggest that some electrical impulses are overloaded while those that allow one to have empathy with others are undercurrent enough to not function properly at all.

Autism has some evolutionary advantages.

Or, rather, there is an evolutionary advantage to having a (small) amount of autistics in your tribe (looking from the caveman perspective).
Autistics have improved perception, so they are great sentries, their lowered functional empathy also makes them less opposed to doing some form of surgery (breaking someones leg a second time before setting it so it can heal properly isn't something an NT will easily do. even today, many chirgeons have some form of autism/psycopathy, for the same reason).

There is also a hypothesis that shamans/oracles/medicine men (or equivalent, depending on the ethnicity) were autistics.


Autism existed before modern times, so it must have some advantage to nullify the disadvantages, anything that has a net negative effect on the chance of reproduction will disappear quickly (or it did, before modern medicine), so it is clear that autism has such advantages.
Modern days have simply removed the need for the classical strengths of the autistic, so we need to find new ones.

I just made a post about this actually, I will just post the main brain differences here:

>>Amygdala functioning as it has less tolerance for social mishaps thus generating more cortisol
>>Generated cortisol may be distributed in "odd places" thus leading to odd body shape
>>More developed frontal cortex leading to better decision making strategies earlier in development for aspies
>>Aspies have faster neuronal processing, leading to "sensory overload" because sensory data is being processed faster
>>On the other hand, some aspies are too numb to some sensory data while others are too sensitive
>>Due to amygdala differences, the amygdala is in charge of "fight or flight" responses to fear, the aspie's amygdala makes them oblivious to potential redflags when determining a person's safety. This is why a lot of aspies end up as target from abusers or have ended up abused/endangered. This is why we and others on the spectrum trust too much.

I also made a video awhile back on the subject that can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7W5epPnyW2Q