Re: Scientific American on Autism

[Guest guest]

> Anyone read the article in the latest Scientific

> American on autism and mirror neurons?

That does seem to go along with inability to read facial body

language. For the moment, at least, I'm inclined to think that

reduced mirror neuron response is a more basic cause or

characteristic.

- s

[Guest guest]

A physical action like closing and opening your fist is like things you

do with you eyes, mouth and face in communicating. Someone sees that

and the mirror neurons in his brain fire according to the facial

movements he sees. He is in effect mirroring all the facial

expressions and recreating the meanings that go with them. They are

reflected in the head of the person viewing them. Watch NTs talk to

eachother sometime. I am able to observe how the facial expressions

and tone of voice of someone will affect the expressions and tone of

voice of the other person. I am just unable to tune into that tone and

make it part of my own expression.

>

> > Anyone read the article in the latest Scientific

> > American on autism and mirror neurons?

>

> That does seem to go along with inability to read facial body

> language. For the moment, at least, I'm inclined to think that

> reduced mirror neuron response is a more basic cause or

> characteristic.

>

> - s

>

[Guest guest]

jd wrote:

>...Watch NTs talk to

>eachother sometime. I am able to observe how the facial expressions

>and tone of voice of someone will affect the expressions and tone of

>voice of the other person. I am just unable to tune into that tone and

>make it part of my own expression.

And yet I have " heard " many auties report that they have learned to

mimic NTs, to the extent that they automatically take on the

characteristics of people they are talking to. For example, some

auties say it's embarrassing that they start using the same accent as

people around them.

How would such learned but " automatic " mirroring show up the brain

imaging tests?

Although I am not among the mimics, I believe my way of speaking to

others is based on growing up hearing my two older sisters. I often

hear the voice of one of them emerging from my mouth. They are not

responsible for the fact that I'm often perceived as sad or angry

(when I'm not); that's just my basic operating system. But when I am

in NT-interface mode, I have voice modulations (and for all I know,

also facial/body gestures) taken directly from my far more

socially-apt siblings.

So: do autistic brains change with respect to this mirroring stuff as

we age and integrate coping mechanisms into our lives so fully that

sometimes we find it hard to turn them off?

Jane

[Guest guest]

> And yet I have " heard " many auties report that they have learned to

> mimic NTs, to the extent that they automatically take on the

> characteristics of people they are talking to. For example, some

> auties say it's embarrassing that they start using the same accent as

> people around them.

That would be me

a

[Guest guest]

> And yet I have " heard " many auties report that they have learned to

> mimic NTs, to the extent that they automatically take on the

> characteristics of people they are talking to. For example, some

> auties say it's embarrassing that they start using the same accent

> as people around them.

I do that, too, and yes, it can be embarrassing. I remember back in

March of '95 when I went to the United Kingdom for Spring Break.

After I'd been there for about a week, I was walking down a street in

Exeter, and someone stopped me. " Pardon me, do you have the time? "

he said (in a British accent, of course). I looked at my watch, then

said, also in a British accent, " It's a bit past four. " He looked a

bit startled (and who can blame him?). Then he thanked me and walked

on. I had been speaking normally all the rest of the time I was

there, and I remember continuing to walk on to where I was heading

and thinking to myself, " Jeez, where the hell did *that* come from? "

[Guest guest]

> > And yet I have " heard " many auties report that they have learned

to

> > mimic NTs, to the extent that they automatically take on the

> > characteristics of people they are talking to. For example, some

> > auties say it's embarrassing that they start using the same

accent

> > as people around them.

>

> I do that, too, and yes, it can be embarrassing. I remember back

in

> March of '95 when I went to the United Kingdom for Spring Break.

> After I'd been there for about a week, I was walking down a street

in

> Exeter, and someone stopped me. " Pardon me, do you have the

time? "

> he said (in a British accent, of course). I looked at my watch,

then

> said, also in a British accent, " It's a bit past four. " He looked

a

> bit startled (and who can blame him?). Then he thanked me and

walked

> on. I had been speaking normally all the rest of the time I was

> there, and I remember continuing to walk on to where I was heading

> and thinking to myself, " Jeez, where the hell did *that* come from? "

>

Hi there totally new here and i have just been blown away - when i am

with people i often end up using their phrases - and mannerisms -

My 40th birthday was terrible - a surprise - ooohhh - I could not

work out my reaction - It was such a wierd mix of people and i was

overwhelmed - i could not function - too many personaes required -

that was twelve years ago - i have had my life explained by my Dx. My

50th birthday present -One that I happen to like.

Cheers Col

Ps please correct me if i have done this wrong -

only had a computer for 9 months -

seem to have an aptitude.

Funny about that.