Neuroscience: It’s What’s For Dinner
A few weeks ago my co-intern, Darby, and I had the pleasure of attending the Autism Tree Project Foundation’s 4th Annual Neuroscience Conference. Located at the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, this day long conference consisted of ten different presentations and two panel discussions that ranged a wide variety of topics relating to autism spectrum disorders. Progressive and groundbreaking research such as Dr. Lawrence Fung’s study “GABA and Sociocommunicative Abilities in Adults with Autism” and Dr. Leanne Chukoskie’s “Leveling up: Using Video Games to Create Job Training Opportunities for Young Adults with ASD” show the different ways in which ASD can be studied. My favorite part, however, was the Living Autistically Panel Forum. This forum discussed the challenges, successes, dreams, and insights of five individuals living with ASD. The panelist include Mason Todd Brown, Lawson Hickey, Lauren Taylor, Chris T. Rosenbaum, and Lora McGuigan. While they all share similar diagnoses, they come from different backgrounds and had different life experiences growing up with Autism. There are a few key points, however, that I took from this panel discussion:
- Don’t assume
Chris boldly stated that the biggest mistake people have made is forming assumptions on what he was/was not able to do because of Autism. Each panelist made it clear that they are more than their disorder and have unique ideas and talents that are of exceptional value to this world. Those with ASD often have difficulty expressing thoughts and emotions, however, they take in much more information than many would think and their expressive ability should not reflect their capabilities.
2. Autism doesn’t make you unaware.
When asked if they don’t miss socializing because they have never really known it, the panelists corrected the audience member by stating how painfully aware they are of their social limitations. They compared their social habits to those who are shy, and discussed how they should not be excluded or treated differently just because of their diagnosis. It was disheartening to hear these challenges so explicitly stated, however, it is furthermore proof that the way professionals and society approach socialization and Autism matters.
3. TEAMWORK!
Not one singular therapy can work for all people with ASD, nor is it likely that one individual with ASD will meet their therapeutic goals by utilizing only one form of therapy. It is the combination of different techniques and interventions as well as support from friends, family, and professionals that provides the most effective results.
To learn more about the Autism Tree Project Foundation, see upcoming events, or donate to their cause visit http://www.autismtreeproject.org
Maggie
Attention is the selective awareness of or selective responsiveness to the sensory environment around you. The ability to choose where you focus your attention is the first step in the learning process, and we all differ in our abilities to control our attention. The good news: we can develop attention control skills like building blocks through structured practice! We can conceptualize the types of attention as a pyramid, starting with focused attention as the base:
Active and receptive music experiences share powerful patterns of brain activation in the bilateral frontal lobes, brainstem, and attention systems in the cerebral cortex. This overlap ensures that the attention skills practiced with music will translate to other contexts, like school or vocational skills. Furthermore, music experiences like instrument-playing, singing, or improvising are often intrinsically motivating, allowing music therapists to get our “foot in the door” to engage with clients and bolster attention skills. Finally, music, as an organized auditory stimulus, brings timing, grouping, and temporal organization so that attention can be sustained and strengthened over time.