drew hempel
06-08-2006, 05:07 AM
Another fascinating New Scientist article "The search for Steve" (p. 48, Perspectives, May, 13, 2006) by the highly esteemed neuroscientist Dr. Ramachandran and his student Lindsay Oberman, gives intriguing results for the cause of autism.
The origin of language has been traced to the "mirror neurons" which fire not only when a primate makes a voluntary movement but also watches the same movement by another primate.
The mirror neurons are the fulcrum point for the development of culture -- learning through imitation via asymmetrical dynamics of complimentary opposites. Primates observe the mirror reversal and gestures then become tied to vocal symbols for language development.
Through EEG experiments with highly autistic people the "mu waves" of the EEG are singled out as mirror neurons which do not get suppressed.
MRI research has subsequently verified a reduction of mirror neurons in autistic people.
This non-suppression and lack of mirror neurons provides a complete model to explain the otherwise widely varying symptons of autism.
Biofeedback is now being used to restore the otherwise dormant mirror neurons in autistic people.
They describe how the amygdala is the gateway to the limbic or emotional center of the brain then cascading messages to the hypothalamus which controls the autonomic nervous system (for flight, feeding, fight and fun -- sex).
This system is based on both behavioural and autonomic-sympathetic arousal by genetics interacting through a feedback system of resonance.
If this feedback system is "distorted" due to lack of suppression of the mirror neurons then there is either an exaggerated emotional response or a "strange preoccupation" with "certain unusual stimuli" -- the savant skills.
The genetic problems cause sensorimotor symptoms and social-cognitive symptoms. But the problems can possibly be solved through biofeedback.
So this mirror neuron model shows the subtle dynamics or as they describe "salient landscape" transcending just genetic evolution.
Dr. Ramachandran is author of the fascinating book "Phantoms in the Brain" detailing his other amazing discoveries in neuroscience.
drew hempel, M.A.
The origin of language has been traced to the "mirror neurons" which fire not only when a primate makes a voluntary movement but also watches the same movement by another primate.
The mirror neurons are the fulcrum point for the development of culture -- learning through imitation via asymmetrical dynamics of complimentary opposites. Primates observe the mirror reversal and gestures then become tied to vocal symbols for language development.
Through EEG experiments with highly autistic people the "mu waves" of the EEG are singled out as mirror neurons which do not get suppressed.
MRI research has subsequently verified a reduction of mirror neurons in autistic people.
This non-suppression and lack of mirror neurons provides a complete model to explain the otherwise widely varying symptons of autism.
Biofeedback is now being used to restore the otherwise dormant mirror neurons in autistic people.
They describe how the amygdala is the gateway to the limbic or emotional center of the brain then cascading messages to the hypothalamus which controls the autonomic nervous system (for flight, feeding, fight and fun -- sex).
This system is based on both behavioural and autonomic-sympathetic arousal by genetics interacting through a feedback system of resonance.
If this feedback system is "distorted" due to lack of suppression of the mirror neurons then there is either an exaggerated emotional response or a "strange preoccupation" with "certain unusual stimuli" -- the savant skills.
The genetic problems cause sensorimotor symptoms and social-cognitive symptoms. But the problems can possibly be solved through biofeedback.
So this mirror neuron model shows the subtle dynamics or as they describe "salient landscape" transcending just genetic evolution.
Dr. Ramachandran is author of the fascinating book "Phantoms in the Brain" detailing his other amazing discoveries in neuroscience.
drew hempel, M.A.