From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism

In this episode, we explore Autism developing in the embryo. We will review a couple Scientific papers discussing specific time frames of development within the embryo based on each trimester and specific cellular abnormal processes occurring. We will connect previous biological and environmental components and how it influences the creation of Autism and previous episodes of From the Spectrum podcast.

Remember in the Cause of Autism episode- Light, Water, Magnetism, Periodic Elements, Vitamins, and Proteins because they are involved. During the episode, we review risk-genes and how this could be the wrong direction for Autism research. As a counter, I provide where research and funding needs to focus- pregnancy.

Cause of Autism https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-spectrum-finding-superpowers-with-autism/id1737499562?i=1000662271496

Eric Courchesne https://profiles.ucsd.edu/eric.courchesne

Prenatal Origins of ASD: The When, What, and How of ASD Development https://www.cell.com/trends/neurosciences/fulltext/S0166-2236(20)30051-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0166223620300515%3Fshowall%3Dtrue

The ASD Living Biology: from cell proliferation to clinical phenotype https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-018-0056-y

Leukocytes and Melanin Pigmentation https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/81931995.pdf

mTOR and PTEN https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9743803/

Cancer Drug for "Autism" https://neurosciencenews.com/asd-cognition-cancer-pharmacology-26481/

0:00 Autism and the Embryo; Review of previous developmental milestones, and the processes and "ingredients" used in our Biology

5:45 Cellular processes; ASD Living Biology; becoming the complex living organism

8:17 1st Trimester: Proliferation, neurogenesis, migration

8:46 2nd Trimester: Neurite overgrowth, synaptogenesis and synaptic function

9:12 3rd Trimester: Neural networks

9:33 Epoch 1 and 2

13:04 Scientific Literature; risk-genes; send research and funding to pregnancy

17:57 Abnormal brain development in the embryo

21:39 Excitation and the risk-genes and consequences to the Nervous System

24:36 Be cautious of research direction; MEDICATION and MEDICAL PARADIGM RANT

29:32 Connecting Light and Abnormal Development across the Body- Example Melanin and Leukocytes

33:12 Recap on the Past 3 episodes

36:00 Reviews/Ratings and Contact Info

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In this episode, we explore some critical dates and understanding of Autism. We will time travel from 1911 to 2024 with a goal of understanding why the sharp increase in Autism diagnosis of late. We review the closeness of schizophrenia and the separation from schizophrenia. In addition, we will review Autism becoming a separate diagnosis in the DSMs from the 1980s and review the closeness of Vaccines and Assessment Standardization that parallels this time. Hopefully, some consideration about the rates of Autism are presented.

Top Revenue Business Types- Not good. https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry-trends/biggest-industries-by-revenue/

Bayh-Dole Act https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2011-title35/html/USCODE-2011-title35-partII-chap18.htm

How Autism became Autism https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3757918/#bibr56-0952695113484320

Eugon Bleuler DEMENTIA PRAECOX OR THE GROUP OF SCHIZOPHRENIAS https://philpapers.org/archive/BLEDPO-2.pdf

Dr. Catherine Lord https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-spectrum-finding-superpowers-with-autism/id1737499562?i=1000659246090

(0:00) Intro, Classifications, Symptoms, Schizophrenia, DSM, Assessments, Vaccines and Bayh-Dole Act

(3:21) 1911; Twilight Peaks; Psychoanalysis; Eugon Bleuler; Early Autism

(10:37) 1959- Separating from Schizophrenia; Generational Lineage; Visual Imagery; Communication Problems are noticed

(14:21) The DSM and the Development of Autism Diagnosis

(17:32) Assessments becoming Standardized

(20:22) Vaccines and the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980; Vaccine Schedule and Centralized Medicine and Revenue

(25:06) 1980s-2000 emergence of Diagnosis and Assessments; Rates of Autism and Explainations

(30:03) Reviews/Ratings and Contact Info

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Email [email protected]

Autism just magically shows up.

"... I realized that all biochemistry is the bridesmaid to physics. I then realized that physics are how the business of cells gets completed. Light is the biophysical levers that control substrate level biochemistry in cells." - Dr. Jack Kruse

(Start here) Regenerative Health with Dr. Max Gulhane and Dr. Jack Kruse https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ln3WszTq0uA

Decentralized is the way (The Status Quo is NO GOOD) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO4JwdXuXXs

Tryptophan Biosynthesis https://faseb.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1096/fj.04-2079rev

Autism and Melanin https://www.patreon.com/posts/quantum-45-83724567

0:00 Introduction & Framing Podcast blends science, personal experience, and opinion to explain autism. Autism “appeared” around 1938 (Kanner/Asperger), with rates rising sharply. Parallels to post-1880s conditions (Alzheimer’s 1906, diabetes, obesity, ADHD) linked to electrification.

5:30 Central Thesis: Light as the Common Environmental Factor Light is the key environmental change. Pre-1880s: sunlight/fire (red/IR-rich). Modern: blue-heavy artificial light. Disrupts vitamin A/B/D, amino acids, water, melanin, melanopsin, POMC.

12:00 Cellular & Mitochondrial Mechanisms Blue light dehydrates cells, disrupts TCA cycle and ATP production. Mitochondria need red/NIR for oxygen-to-water conversion; blue causes hypoxia/stress. Universal cellular vulnerability explains issues without added toxins.

19:00 Neuroplasticity & Autism as Adaptation Autism as extreme neuroplasticity adapting to light stress, like blind individuals repurposing visual cortex.

22:00 Lifespan Symmetry: Autism Dementia Autism and dementia rates mirror across lifespan. Both show early retinal damage. Artificial light at night exploded post-1940s, enabling 24/7 life at biological cost.

26:00 Light Spectra Compared Sun: 250–3100 nm, 43–47% red/IR. Incandescent/fire: warm/red-dominant. LEDs: blue peak (460–480 nm). Indoor dim vs. outdoor bright. Vitamin D inverse with autism; lower rates near equator.

31:00 Wavelength-Specific Benefits

37:00 The Unsung Hero Melanin absorbs all light to power biology and protect vs. stress/toxins. Neuromelanin links to Parkinson’s; autism raises Parkinson’s risk 3x.

48:00 Tryptophan → Serotonin → Melatonin Pipeline UVB activates tryptophan → serotonin → melatonin (95% mitochondrial). Blue light causes radicals, disrupts cells. Serotonin modulates development, sensory, gut

58:00 Rapid brain growth needs optimal light. Autism disrupts cell migration, speech/motor/sensory. GABA switch vulnerable.

1:07:00 B-Vitamins & UVB-dependent; blue disrupts folate/B12 for DNA methylation.

1:14:00 Autism rise coincides with electrification. More sunlight in pregnancy could reduce risk

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In this episode, we discuss Autism with Dr. Leanna Hernandez. Dr. Hernandez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA and director of the Hernandez Lab. She is a member of UCLA’s Center for Autism Research and Treatment, Center for Neurobehavioral Genetics, and the Brain Research Institute, and serves as Co-Director of the Genetics, Genomics, and Informatics Core for UCLA’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center.

Hernandez Lab https://www.hernandezlabucla.org

Additive effects of oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms on reward circuitry in youth with autism https://www.nature.com/articles/mp2016209

Imaging-genetics of sex differences in ASD: distinct effects of OXTR variants on brain connectivity https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-020-0750-9

Oxytocin and Vasopressin and the Autistic Phenotype https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/from-the-spectrum-finding-superpowers-with-autism/id1737499562?i=1000660031273 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAtmC-s1_e0

(0:00) Intro; Dr. Leanna Hernandez

(2:24) Autistic Phenotypes

(4:13) Dr. Hernandez education journey into Autism and the Hernandez Lab

(9:03) 2017 Paper Oxytocin Receptor Gene, Common Genetic Variance, Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP), and Reward and Social Processing and the Nucleus Accumbens (NAc)

(15:10) Differences in Brain Connectivity between Autistics and Non-Autistics

(20:06) Social Cognition, Boy Bias in Autism; GENDAAR Consortium and Sex- and Diagnosis-Differences

(21:48) GENDAAR

(22:45) Boys versus Girls Connectivity involving the NAc with and without Autism

(25:38) Different Connectivity correlated with Different ADOS scores for Repetitive Behaviors

(26:35) Female Protective Effect for Autism; Camouflaging/Masking

(30:19) The Assessment process for Girls and the Oxytocin Receptor Gene Sex Differences and Socialness and understanding the Boy Bias

(32:48) Current Research and a Genome Wide approach and Polygenic Risk Scores

(35:10) Oxytocin and Excitation/Inhibition

(37:08) Sharing Information and Current Research

(41:45) The Future of Autism Research

(45:48) Reviews/Ratings and Contact Info

email: [email protected]

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We expand on a critical network discussed in the Autism and Adaptive Responses episode. The biology that gives us Autism, gives us a condition the outside world is chaotic. The trade off is our inner world is comfortable. See criteria B.3.

The Salience Network is used to determine what we send our attention to as we orient ourselves with the outside world. You can see this in Autism versus Non-Autism. Autistics orient to single objects or single interests more than multiple objects or interests. That's Criteria B of Autism- Restricted, Repetitive Interests, Behaviors, or Activities.

In Autism, the Salience Network connects to different regions compared to Non-Autism, and this is shown at Six-Weeks-Old. And, this implicates our Social Attention and Social Motivation. Remember Hans Aspergers called the children "little professors" because Autism provides a path of Superpowers based on those fixated interests that are "abnormal in intensity or focus."

Covered Here. Also, we prepare for another discussion with a leading scientist from UCLA.

Study on Six-Week-Old https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-024-06016-9

GENDAAR https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34050743/

(0:00) Intro; Human's Capacity to Think; the Salience Network and the NAc

(2:56) Insula

(4:47) Defining the Salience Network and Salience Detection; getting "hijacked" and metabolic bank account

(7:42) the Biology that gives us Autism causes a Chaotic outside world

(9:00) Returning to Six-week-olds and the Salience Network

(10:28) The Prefrontal Cortex and Human Cortex quiets things so we can properly evaluate things

(13:52) Salience Connections of six-week-olds; social attention at 3-12 months; Autistic traits at 12 months

(17:40) Sex-and-Diagnosis Differences; GENDAAR study using 8-17 year olds; Salience Network and Sensorimotor and Repetitive Behaviors

(20:47) Second Key Finding and possible cause of Boys Bias with Autism

(21:30) The Nucleus Accumbens- Reward Hub; Two Parts; shell and core

(25:20) Preparing for a future episode

(30:27) Reviews/Ratings and Contact Info

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/fromthespectrum.podcast

Email: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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: [email protected]

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

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