...System and the Salience Landscape Dysfunction Pamela H. Crittenden University of Maryland University College The Mirror Neuron System and the Salience Landscape Dysfunction This paper will summarized and critique the important points discussed by Vilayanur S. Ramachandran and Lindsay M. Oberman in the article “The Theory of Autism”. Support and expansion of the ideas presented will be discussed. Several points in the article will be evaluated. Two theories that were prevalent during their studies to help explain and or determine the cause of Autism were the Mirror Neuron Dysfunctions and Disrupted Salience Landscape Theory. To begin it is important to define what is meant by Autism. It is a genetic disorder that plagues a small portion of Americans. Children diagnosed with Autism are unable to carry on normal conversations and tend to remove themselves from any chance of social contact. Although they may experience different types of emotions such as fear and pleasure they also experience poor language, lack of eye contact and social isolation. As stated by the author (Ramachandran and Oberman, 2006) Patricia M. Rodier believes that “susceptibility to autism is inherited” and her theory is based on a “newly discovered class of nerve cells in the brain called Mirror Neurons” (Ramachandran and Oberman, 2006, p.64). These nerve cells take on the same characteristics of an Autistic patient. According to Eric...
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...Disorders Autism Autism it is a serious disorder that begins in infancy and is characterized by abnormal social development, impaired language and communication, and repetitive behavior. The diagnosis of autism is based on “observed behavior and educational and psychological testing (Autism Speaks).” When trying to determine whether a child is autistic or not there are a number of signs that parents and observers can watch for. Children that have poor eye contact, little interest in other people, and do not respond to their name are considered to be autistic. Other signs involve the child having trouble with their speech. This could mean no babbling or no speech at all by 16 months. If a child does not gesture or point at things as in showing you something their interested in or possibly want by a certain age then they may also be considered autistic. Autism begins in early brain development and obvious sign may occur between 2 and 3 years of age. Genetics seems to be the most responsible for autism. “Many genes on several chromosomes have been implicated; in some cases genes related to neural communication appear to have been copied to many times or left out during meiosis (Carol K. Singleman, Elizabeth A. Rider).” Meiosis is the process of a reproductive cell in the mother’s ovaries or in the father’s testes that contains 46 chromosomes splitting into two 46 chromosome cells. Once this division process is complete then those two chromosomes split again to form a total...
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...language, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (commonly abbreviated as PDD-NOS), which is diagnosed when the full set of criteria for autism or Asperger syndrome are not met. There are different unknown causes of autism but the condition is linked to biology and chemical abnormality in the brain, the children and parents affected with autism face different challenges to live a normal life. Autism is a physical condition linked to abnormal biology and chemistry in the brain. The exact causes of these abnormalities remain unknown, but this is a very active area of research. There are probably combinations of factors that lead to autism. Genetic factors are important causes of autism. Also, language abnormalities are more common in relatives of autistic children. Chromosomal abnormalities and other nervous system (neurological) problems are also more common in families with autism. Several lines of evidence point to synaptic dysfunction as a cause of autism. Some rare mutations may lead to autism by disrupting some synaptic pathways, such as those involved with cell adhesion. Gene replacement studies in mice suggest that autistic symptoms are closely related to later developmental steps that depend on activity in synapses and on activity-dependent changes. All known teratogens related to the...
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...aloofness and lack of interest in other people, has long been considered the central feature of autism." (Comer, R. J. 2005) the typical autistic child does not like to be held and will wiggle and sometimes fight from being held. Language and communication problems are an issue with the autistic child, many times they are non-verbal or will repeat words. "Autism is also marked by limited imaginative play and very repetitive and rigid behavior." (Comer, R. J. 2005)Sometimes the autistic child have movements that do not appear normal to others, but it is the repeatedly behavior that the autistic child will do to calm themselves. Sensory issues to materials, sounds, and stimuli. "Sometimes the individuals seem over stimulated by sights and sounds and to be trying to block them out, while at other times they seem under stimulated and to be performing self-stimulatory actions.". (Comer, R. J. 2005) 2. Which explanation for autism is no longer considered valid and lacks research support? There are a few explanations for autism, which are no longer considered valid. At first, theorists thought that family dysfunction and social stress were the primary causes of autism. . (Comer, R. J. 2005)At one time, it was thought that autism could have been caused by social and environmental stress." Investigators who have compared children with autism to children without the disorder have found no differences in the rate of parental death, divorce, separation, financial problems, or environmental...
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...disorders usually evident by age three. Their intelligence quotients average at approximately 50, as compared to the average 100. Children with autism have difficulties with social interactions. They may fail to respond to their name and often avoid eye contact. These children start speaking later than others and may refer to themselves by name instead of “I” or “me”. They are also more likely to repeat words and reverse pronoun. Autistic individuals display many forms of restrictive behaviors, some of which include ritualistic behavior, compulsive behavior, resistance to change, etc. Autism varies widely in its severity and symptoms. Scientists aren’t certain as to what causes autism. There are both environmental and genetic theories. Studies have shown several genes associated with autism, strongly suggesting some families may have a predisposition to autism. In families with one autistic child, the risk of having another child with the disorder is greater than for the general population, at about one in 20 (5%). Scientists are looking for a gene that might be responsible for this increase in susceptibility. In some cases, relatives of an autistic child show deficits in social and communicative skills as well as repetitive behavior. These syndrome is six time more likely to occur in men than in women. Other studies show that children with autism have abnormal levels of serotonin in several regions of their brain. This suggests that...
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...Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder &ump; Autism in the Classroom When teaching it must be expected that there will be students that have behavioral disorders. These disorders must be taken into consideration when giving these students the best education possible. Teachers must accommodate to these children and incorporate them into the daily classroom. Every teacher has their own methods of doing this and can use their creativity to come up with these strategies for teaching. Some strategies may not work, so instructors must put much thought into how they are going to accommodate to these particular students. A very common disorder in children is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. These students have a difficult time holding attention due to the lack of the ability to concentrate. These students tend to act impulsively, have attention deficits, and sometimes exude hyperactive behaviors. Children that have ADHD do not qualify for special education unless they also have another disability. Approximately 7.8 percent of children from the ages of 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with ADHD, research also shows that males are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD over women. These ratios vary from 4:1 to 9:1. These students with ADHD can be impulsive, which means they act before they think or before considering the situation that they are currently in. They also have a hard time concentrating and find it difficult to sit still. There are medications for ADHD, and...
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...Critically evaluate the theory of mind hypothesis of autism Childhood Autism is a rare and severe developmental disorder that affects about 4 in every 10,000 children (Baron-Cohen, Leslie & Frith, 1985). Autism affects how an individual communicates, socialises and even how they make sense of the world around them. Many theories have tried to explain what causes autism in an attempt to achieve greater understanding of the disorder and potentially aid those with autism to live happier and more fulfilling lives. In this essay I will be focusing on the symptoms of autism, the ‘theory of mind’ hypothesis and its strengths and weaknesses. The three main symptoms of autism were outlined by Wing and Gould (1979) and are known as the triad of impairments. These three impairments were identified as communication, socialisation and imagination. Many studies have found a distinct lack of communication skills in autistic children. Prior et al. (1998) found that autistic infants don’t attempt ‘babbling’ and they don’t follow the usual patterns of language development displayed by most infants, such as being able to speak simple one syllable words by the age of one, which over half of autistic children don’t do. Then, even when they begin to form understandable sentences, they often make grammatical errors and fail to use or comprehend emotional tone. This impairment of communication, both verbal and non-verbal, most likely plays a part in a lack of social understanding and stable...
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...in rare cases, is strongly associated with agents that cause birth defects. Parents usually notice signs in the first two years of their child's life. The signs usually develop gradually, but some autistic children first develop more normally and then regress. Early behavioral or cognitive intervention can help autistic children gain self-care, social, and communication skills. Although there is no known cure, there have been reported cases of children who recovered. Not many children with autism live independently after reaching adulthood, though some become successful. An autistic culture has developed, with some individuals seeking a cure and others believing autism should be accepted as a difference and not treated as a disorder. Social deficits distinguish autism and the related autism spectrum disorders from other developmental disorders. People with autism have social impairments and often lack the intuition about others that many people take for granted. Some unusual social development becomes noticeable in early childhood. Infants show less attention to social stimuli, do not look or smile at people as often, and do not respond to their name as much. They also do not possess the ability to use simple movements to express themselves. Three- to five-year-old autistic children are less likely to exhibit social understanding, approach others spontaneously, imitate and respond to emotions, communicate nonverbally, and...
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...Skills: Children or people diagnosed with autism show signs of delayed social development. Many people with autism make very little or no eye contact; show little interest in making or establishing friendships, and few seek out play mates or engage in make believe play. People with autism are easily upset whenever there is a change in their routine, and any minor disruption can cause them to go into an outburst. b) Language: Autism influences a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others in social atmospheres. Autistic children are usually set back when it comes time to learn to speak. Many people with autism speak in an abnormal fashion; some may speak in robotic tones or sing their words and phrases. They may even often sound like a broken record, -- repeating words over and over again. They may even act as though they are deaf, refusing to respond when their names are called. c) Behavioral: Most autistic children and adults will avoid any physical contact. They may respond better to a slight touch, but any other type of affection such as cuddling or hugging they try to avoid. Some autistic people will fixate themselves to certain objects like oscillating fans, spinning tops. They may sometimes display repetitive movements, such as rocking their body’s back and forth, or their fingers are in constant motion. d) Medical: Some people with autism may suffer from epilepsy and other types of seizure disorders. In some cases, if an autistic child regresses...
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...difficulty with language, abnormal responses to sensory stimuli, resistance to change and difficulty with social interaction. ?Other characteristics of autism may include: making the same repetitive motion for hours, repeating a sound or phrase, inability to hold a conversation, practicing unusual play patterns, and extreme sensitivity to sound and touch? (Riccio, 1999). Autistics can exhibit any combination of these characteristics in any degree. That is why autism is referred to as a ?spectrum? disorder, because at one end of the disorder a child may be inflicted with some symptoms, while at the opposite end a child may be inflicted with multiple symptoms with many areas in between. Children who display few symptoms may be characterized as ?mildly autistic?. Early signs of Autism may appear in the first months of life. Autistic infants tend to stray away from other people, avoiding touch and become limp or stiff when picked up or help. Autistic children don?t reach maturation as fast as normal children. A normal child will point to objects or smile when seeing their mother before the end of their first year, but children with autism develop this behavior much later. These symptoms may go on unnoticed by parents or doctors...
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...AUTISM Autistic individuals typically have problems processing auditory information. One auditory processing problem occurs when a person hears speech sounds but he/she does not perceive the meaning of the sounds. For example, if someone says the word ‘shoe,’ the person may hear the speech sound, but he/she does not understand the meaning of the sound. Sometimes the lack of speech comprehension is interpreted by others as an unwillingness to comply. However, the person may not be able to retrieve the meaning of the sound at that particular time. Eric Courchesne of the University of California at San Diego has found significant impairments in auditory processing in autistic individuals using P300 brain wave technology (see Courchesne, 1987 for a review). The P300 brain wave occurs 300 milli-seconds after the presentation of a stimulus. (The ‘P’ refers to the positive polarity of the brain wave.) The P300 is associated with cognitive processing, and this brain wave is considered an indication of long-term memory retrieval (Donchin, Ritter, & McCallum, 1978). Edelson et al. (1999) examined auditory P300 activity prior to and three months following auditory integration training (AIT). Three autistic individuals participated in the experimental AIT group and two autistic individuals participated in a placebo group. Prior to AIT, all five individuals had abnormal auditory P300 activity, indicating an auditory processing problem. Three months following AIT, the results...
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...What is Autism Spectrum Disorder? Michelle Murphy Adelphi University Abstract Autism spectrum disorder is the most rapidly growing developmental disorder in the United States, affecting 1 in every 88 children (Autism Speaks, 2012). The 1930s brought about the discovery of this disorder by Dr. Leo Kanner when he studied eleven children who possessed similar qualities that did not coincide with any known psychological disorders. Since Dr. Kanner’s initial research with Autism, many signs that he observed in the children he studied began to be noticed in many more children. The most common sign of Autism is an individual’s inability to communicate and express him or herself in the correct way. Furthermore, a lack of social skills, inability to speak, emotionless attitude, and obsessive behavior when performing certain tasks are common qualities seen amongst people with Autism (Wing, 2001.) These signs vary depending on the type of Autism the individual is diagnosed with. Autism is organized into five subcategories: Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder, Classic Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder, and Rett’s Syndrome ("Autism community- Autism," 2010). Each of these subcategories help psychologists and researchers to better understand the form of Autism they are dealing with, and as a result provide more effective treatment methods in accordance with the individual’s diagnosis. Although a variety of treatment methods have been established to aid people...
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...Joint attention Does joint attention facilitate language acquisition in children? Joint attention is that shared focus of two individuals on a single object. This is simply achieved when one of the individuals alerts the attention of the other to the object mainly through pointing, eye gazing or through the use of verbal and other non verbal indications. An individual focuses their gaze on the other individual, points their finger on the object and then returns their gaze on the individual. Cross sectional description of a child’s ability to follow an eye gaze was first presented by researchers Scafie and Bruner the first time in 1975. They found out that children aged between eight to ten months followed a line regarded to them, children between eleven and fourteen months old also did the same. This form of early research showed that it is possible to bring objects to the attention environment of an infant through the use of an eye gaze (Moore & Dunham, 2009). A good development in language is of critical importance when it comes to an infant’s readiness for school and achievement in academics (Janus & Offord, 2007). Language development is also a key facilitator in the development of social skills of an individual which optimizes the involvement of the individual in social and economic activities of the society (Zubrick et al., 2009). There is increased attention from researchers in early child development in language so s to better understands human development. Language...
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...disorders are biological brain disorders that are responsible for early onset brain dysfunctions. The disorders can be genetic or acquired from trauma, heredity, the environment, or illness. This paper will discuss the behavioral criteria for two different disorders, along with the incidence rates, causes, and two treatment options for each disorder. The two different disorders that will be talked about in this paper will be autism and eating disorders. Autism What is autism? Autism is not considered by many a “serious” disorder; this disorder starts in infancy, and may be characterized by different factors: impaired language and communication, repetitive disorder and abnormal social development. The diagnosis of autism is based on “observed behavior” and educational and psychological testing. When trying to determine whether a child is autistic or not there are a number of signs that parents and observers can watch for. Children that have poor eye contact, little interest in other people, and do not respond to their name are considered to be autistic. Other signs involve the child having trouble with their speech. Autism begins in early brain development and obvious sign may occur between 2 and 3 years of age. Genetics seems to be the most responsible for autism. As a growing negative epidemic of this disease growing among Americans, it has now been diagnosed to affect 1 in every 68 children (Volkmark, 2009). As oppose to certain disorder being diagnosed more in certain races...
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...What is autism? Definition Autism is a severely incapacitating developmental disorder of brain function characterized by three major types of symptoms: impaired social interaction, problems with verbal and nonverbal communication, and unusual or severely limited activities and interests. The definition of Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is provided by the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). Children with autism are less able to interact with the world as other children do. To provide a comprehensive definition of Autism Spectrum Disorder, there are separate labels given to children with autism for different points on the Autism spectrum. At the least affected end, you may find labels such as "Asperger's Syndrome", "High Functioning Autism" and "Pervasive Developmental Disorder - Not Otherwise Specified" (PDD-NOS). At the other end of the spectrum you may find labels such as "Autism", "Classic Autism" and "Kanner Autism". Description Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. The diagnostic criteria require that symptoms become apparent before a child is three years old. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize; how this occurs is not well understood. It is one of three recognized disorders in the autism spectrum (ASDs), the other two...
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