From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism

Podcast episodes

• 

  The Roles of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in the Autistic Phenotype

  The Roles of Oxytocin and Vasopressin in the Autistic Phenotype

  E13

  39:16

  In this episode, we explore Oxytocin and Vasopressin's vast roles in Human Biology. We time travel to cover the evolution of the two molecules and learn about their functions with developing and socializing. Oxytocin and Vasopressin are dynamic molecules whereby they are Peptides and Hormones. In addition, we cover previously discussed brain regions and how the molecules work alongside key Neuromodulators like Serotonin and Dopamine. Social Reward https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6214365/ Social Reward Requires Oxytocin and Serotonin in Nucleus Accumbens (Parvo Path) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4091761/ Magnocellular and Parvocellular social Information Processing https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(20)30770-4?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627320307704%3Fshowall%3Dtrue Magnocellular and Parvocellular https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jne.12284 Meta-Analysis of Intranasal https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=intranasal+oxytocin+autism&sort=pubdate&filter=pubt.meta-analysis https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33400920/ Intranasal Review https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38579916/ (0:00) Intro; Oxytocin and Vasopressin; Episode Objectives (2:46) Oxytocin and Vasopressin; 700 million year time travel (Phylogeny) (4:12) Peptides and Hormones; Modes of Transmission- Endocrine, Paracrine, Synaptic (6:35) Proteins and Peptides; Amino Acids and Aromatic Amino Acids and Light (8:58) Magnocellular and Parvocellular (12:33) Roles of Oxytocin and Vasopressin and connections to various Brain Regions (22:20) Scientific Literatures (27:12) Oxytocin and Serotonin; 1) Reward Processing, 2) Fear Response, 3) Social-Emotional Processing (30:07) Oxytocin and Dopamine (31:08) Dopamine Receptors (31:37) GABA (33:57) Intranasal Oxytocin (36:08) Take aways from Intranasal Literature (37:24) Biggest Take Away (Magnocellular versus Parvocellular and Intranasal Administration) email: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com

• 

  Dr. Catherine Lord: The Evolution of Autism Assessment, Challenges with Understanding the Spectrum of Autism, and Barriers in the Medical and Education Systems for Autism

  Dr. Catherine Lord: The Evolution of Autism Assessment, Challenges with Understanding the Spectrum of Autism, and Barriers in the Medical and Education Systems for Autism

  E12

  51:39

  In this episode, we discuss Autism with Dr. Catherine Lord. Dr. Lord is a Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry and Education at UCLA and one of the foremost researchers in Autism. Dr. Lord provides tremendous insights into her roles in Autism and Autism Assessment. Dr. Lord discusses her journey into Autism, the evolution of the Assessment including the ADOS growing from her basement and being overran by demand to the Gold Standard, the Challenges with understanding the Spectrum, updates on the Lancet Commission and Profound Autism, and Barriers in the Medical and Educational Systems. Dr. Catherine Lord: https://www.semel.ucla.edu/autism/team/catherine-lord-phd https://childmind.org/bio/catherine-lord-phd/ https://labs.dgsom.ucla.edu/lord/pages/our_team The Lancet Commission https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01541-5/abstract The Lancet https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30078460/ Nature Reviews Disease Primers https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31949163/ Autism and Education https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-spectrum-finding-superpowers-with-autism/id1737499562?i=1000656055638 https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/d948fecc-8cfa-4203-8493-a12d2c9c92ed/episodes/bf7ce843-0dd2-4fe8-b800-82ea9cace96d/from-the-spectrum-finding-superpowers-with-autism-autism-and-education The mention of a recent article on Predicting Profound Autism and Cell Biology and me shying away from saying "Organoids" in real-time https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11127428/ (0:00) Intro (3:22) Dr. Lord's journey into Autism and Recognizing a Spectrum (11:25) The Evolution of Autism Assessment and Discussion on the ADI and ADOS- from making the ADOS in her Basement and being Overran by Demand to the Gold Standard; Revisions of Assessment Instruments (16:36) Gaps in the Autism Assessment (23:15) The Challenges with Understanding the Spectrum of Autism (29:32) Updates on the Lancet Commission and Profound Autism (35:19) Barriers with Autism and the Medical Field (39:29) Barriers with Autism and Education- Four Strikes against the Autistic Phenotype: Sensory-Processing, Speech and Language, Social Communication/Interaction, and Subject Switching (understand B3: Fixated Interests) (44:25) The Future of Autism and Helping Autistics Across the Life Span (51:03) Reviews/Ratings and Contact Info email: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com

• 

  Autism and Adaptive Responses, and exploring the mPFC, ACC, and Insula

  Autism and Adaptive Responses, and exploring the mPFC, ACC, and Insula

  E11

  36:33

  In this episode, we explore three regions associated with social awareness- the medial Prefrontal Cortex, the Anterior Cingulate Cortex, and the Insula. We review the functions of each, the interactions between each region, and the inputs and bi-directional connections to some crucial areas of the brain. In large part, we will review adaptive responses and cover some scientific literature on these regions and the implications to Autism. https://molecularautism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13229-024-00593-6 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9354837/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6766703/#:~:text=Schematic%20structure%20of%20different%20regions,and%20infralimbic%20cortex%20(IL). https://www.cell.com/neuron/fulltext/S0896-6273(12)01108-7?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0896627312011087%3Fshowall%3Dtrue https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-06016-9 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763409000815?via%3Dihub#aep-section-id15 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17470919.2023.2242095 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006322308011578 (0:00) Intro; mPFC, ACC, and Insula (3:26) mPFC, Excitation / Inhibition; CNTNAP2, SHANK3, Neuroligin, and PTEN (7:42) Functions of mPFC and a primary dive into Adaptive Responses; Neuromodulators (13:52) ACC (15:23) the mPFC and ACC lead the way (19:29) Scientific Studies on Theory of Mind Task and Sensory Processing (21:52) Insula (26:49) Scientific Study: Eye Gaze, Social Attention, Social Cognition, Observational Learning (30:11) Social and Nonsocial Studies- different areas for Autistics versus Non-Autistic (32:38) A study using 6-week-old Infants, attentional biases and sensorimotor and different brain areas (35:05) Wrap Up email: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com

• 

  Autism and Anxiety

  Autism and Anxiety

  E10

  38:50

  In this episode, we discuss biology of anxiety, responses from anxiety, and common situations causing anxiety with Autism. The stress response system of the body is very finite and the nervous system reflexively responds based on what it knows. A few biological components of anxiety include the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), and the spine. Common responses to anxiety include avoidance, shifts in physiology, and valance, or how we feel about the situation. To end, we have a lengthy discussion on some common sources of anxiety. Biology and Anxiety https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6690364/ Deisseroth on Anxiety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UtCeIefq_PM Deisseroth on Autism and Anxiety https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oiKOX2lCmE Physiological Sighs https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-medicine/fulltext/S2666-3791(22)00474-8 Jack Feldman https://bioscience.ucla.edu/people/jack-feldman/ David Spiegel https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/david-spiegel Joseph LeDoux https://as.nyu.edu/faculty/joseph-e-ledoux.html (0:00) Intro; Comorbid Tendency and the DSM (2:56) Anxiety's role (3:42) Biology and responses of Anxiety; Amygdala and Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis; Avoidance, Physiology, Valance (7:48) Avoidance (Action)- Hypothalamus (9:11) Brief notes on Cortex (11:36) Back to the Hypothalamus (12:27) Physiology/Breathing (Body)- Parabrachial Nucleus; Physiological Sigh; Brainstem, Spine, and Body (17:48) Valance (Feelings)- Ventral Tegmental Area; direct or indirect exposure- it doesn't matter (20:00) Dopamine, Neuroplasticity, Side note on Testosterone, Multiple words have the same meaning (24:58) Common situations for Anxiety and Autism (35:58) Wrap Up, Reviews and Ratings, Contact Info

• 

  Autism and Employment

  Autism and Employment

  E09

  32:20

  In this episode, we cover Autism and employment- some Superpowers and some Superdeficits. We discuss different types of work that are easier and fit our abilities and cover some challenges in the workplace. Some challenges include the social dynamic and being misunderstood, which are driving forces and sources of burnout and avoidance. Remember the metabolic "bank" account and the Excitation/Inhibition discussion. Brain Science and Sir Simon Baron-Cohen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMxfq_QLuUU Brain Science Podcast https://www.youtube.com/@BrainSciencePodcast Pattern Seekers by Sir Simon Baron-Cohen https://www.amazon.com/Pattern-Seekers-Autism-Drives-Invention/dp/1541647149 Autistic Brain by Temple Grandin https://www.amazon.com/Autistic-Brain-Temple-Grandin/dp/0544227735 (0:00) Intro; Clip of Sir Simon Baron-Cohen on Brain Science with Dr. Ginger Campbell; Society's trap and time perception (6:20) Autism and awareness; Do others see or understand our abilities (9:12) The applying process and the interview- we hate look at me; Superdeficits are easier to remember; Honesty and accuracy and Employers don't have an accurate comparison (12:39) Understanding the Autistic Brain (14:25) Autistic Traits - some Superpowers (21:20) Autistic Traits - some Superdeficits (28:43) Good and Bad: Perfectionism- a tough balance (30:42) Do things that you can do, you will do, and you love to do; The Nervous System just does; See Temple Grandin and Sir Simon Baron-Cohen on types of employment for different types of Autistic Brains (31:38) Reviews and Ratings; Contact Information