Signs and Symptoms
Give an example of a deficit in non-verbal communicative behaviors.
Any of the following: Abnormal eye contact, abnormal body language, deficits in understanding and use of gestures
What does it mean when Professor Gee says that ASD is a heterogenous condition?
The autism population is highly varied through severity of symptoms and the set of symptoms that an individual may have.
Describe copy number variation.
A genetic defect where certain genes are repeated several times in a row.
True or false: Only areas associated with the cerebral cortex are damaged/abnormal in the autistic brain.
FALSE
Explain the difference between hyperreactivity and hyporeactivity to sensory input.
Hyperreactivity is when there's an above-normal response while hyporeactivity is when there's an indifference to pain or temperature.
What is the most mild form of ASD?
Aspergers
What's the prevalence of autism in the regular population? What does this tell us about autism?
The prevalence is 1%. This tells us that genetics are not the only factor associated with getting ASD.
What is theory of mind?
Give an example of a deficit in social-emotional reciprocity.
Any of the following: Abnormal social approach and failure of a normal back-and-forth conversation or reduced sharing of interests, emotions, or affect.
What is the diagnostic window for ASD?
6 months old - 3 yrs old
How many genes are associated with autism?
At least 10
List the brain areas that are damaged/not normal in an autistic brain.
Cerebellum, amygdala, hippocampus, corpus callosum, and frontal lobe
List at least 2 of the remaining 4 symptoms of ASD that are related to restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior.
1.) Stereoptyped or repetitive motor movements, use of objects, or speech
2.) Insistence on sameness, inflexible adherence to routines, or ritualised patterns of verbal communication
3.) Highly restricted, fixated interests that are abnormal in intensity or focus
4.) Hyperreactivity or hyporeactivity to sensory input
Describe "islets of abilities"
Even on the most severe of the spectrum, people with a severe form of ASD still have abilities that are preserved to be normal or be exaggerated (above average).
What is the conclusion about genetic's role in ASD?
As the genetic overlap with a family member who has autism increases, the likelihood of you getting ASD also increases.
How did autistic people score on the Sally-Anne test compared to the general population, and what does this tell us?
Most kids with autism can't answer the posed question, showing that people with autism lack theory of mind.
List the 3 syptoms that include social interactions (all 3 must be present to be diagnosed with ASD).
1.) Deficits in social-emotional reciprocity
2.) Deficits in non-verbal communicative behaviours
3.) Deficits in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships
Describe comorbidity and which other disorders are associated with ASD.
Comorbidity is when you have a given disease and there's a likelihood that another one comes with it. ASD is comorbid with ADHD, anxiety, irritability and aggression.
Describe why autism is more likely to occur in men than in women.
Autism is associated with damage to the x chromosome; since women have 2 x chromosomes, damage in 1 can be made up for with the other one. For men, if their one x chromosome is damaged, there is no way to make up for it.
Describe the Sally-Anne test.
2 dolls are put in front of toy chests, one for "Sally" and one for "Anne". The researchers only put a toy into Sally's chest. The researchers then remove Sally and Anne "takes" the toy out of Sally's chest and puts it into her own. The child is then asked where Sally would think the toy is. (Theory of mind).