In this episode, Ben sits down with Sir Simon Baron-Cohen, one of the most influential yet controversial leading figures in Autism research. As the director of Cambridge’s Autism Research Centre, Simon has spent 40 years shaping how we understand autism, from pioneering diagnostic tools to exploring the genetics behind neurodiversity.

They unpack the history of autism diagnoses, why prevalence has risen, and the shifting perception from ‘disorder’ to celebrating a different way of thinking. Plus, they dive into some of the most debated topics in autism research - The complexities of empathy and the ethical challenges of genetic studies.

This is the First of a Two Part Episode - tune in for some groundbreaking research next week in Part Two!

00:00 Introduction

2:08 Ben’s Child Asks Simon: 'Are You REALLY the World's Top Autism Expert?'

2:50 Back In Time: Autism 40 years Ago

4:08 Autism Diagnoses Then vs. Now: How Children & Adults Were Diagnosed 40 Years Ago

4:45 The Moment Autism Prevalence Began to Rise

5:21 Autism Diagnostic Criteria & Disappearance of Aspergers

10:42 The History of Autism

11:48 What Sparked Simon’s Interest in Autism?

13:44 Societies Beliefs and Understanding of Autism 40 Years Ago

15:07 Genetics and The Hidden 20%

17:05 Why Autism Isn’t 100% Genetic

17:34 Ethical Minefields: Genetics Research VS Autism

20:42 Were Scientists Trying to 'Cure' Autism 40 Years Ago?

21:57 When We Started Celebrating Autistic Strengths

23:23 Brains That Think Differently: The Birth of Neurodiversity

24:26 Autism VS Closing The Gender Gap

26:39 Brains That Systemise VS Brains That Empathise

28:32 Autism & Empathy: Cognitive Empathy VS Affective Empathy

35:33 Do Vaccines Cause Autism?

36:37 Why Are the CDC Investigating the Correlation Between Autism and Vaccines?

39:43 Changing The Way We See Autism: Celebrating the Differences

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On "The Hidden 20%," host Ben Branson chats with neurodivergent [ADHD, Autism, Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Tourette's etc.] creatives, entrepreneurs, and experts to see how great minds.. think differently.

Host: Ben Branson

Head of Production: Bella Neale

Assistant Producer: Phoebe De Leiburné

Video Editor: James Scriven

Social Media Manager: Charlie Young

Music: Jackson Greenberg

Brought to you by charity The Hidden 20% #1203348

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