The Autistic Brain Summary

Summary of The Autistic Brain Book by Temple Grandin, Richard Panek

Name: The Autistic Brain
Rating: 4.8 (1378 reviews)
Author: Temple Grandin, Richard Panek

4.8 . 1378 reviews

Short summary

Human diversity never stops surprising researchers. We are ready to explore an autistic disorder and how people who have it understand reality. You have probably met a person with autism. It usually feels like they are not in the “here and now.” But they are present in the moment, and even more than ordinary people. The Autistic Brain, written by Temple Grandin, a woman with an autistic disorder, and Richard Panek, a popular science writer, shows how eloquent and intelligent Grandin is. Her world perception pushes people to reconsider the concept of normality. Even though the autistic brain differs biologically from the brains of people who don't have autism, many other features are shared among all humans. Grandin is an excellent scientist with a well-developed attention to detail. Her desire to explore her disorder resulted in a captivating journey inside the human brain. You will learn which changes in the brain lead to autism, how autistic people think, and how some parts of our brain work. “Neuroimaging allows us to ask two fundamental questions about every part of the brain: What does it look like? What does it do?” ~ Temple Grandin

16 min

7 key points

7 insights

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Table of content

Summary of The Autistic Brain
About the author
What is The Autistic Brain about?
Who should read The Autistic Brain
Topics in The Autistic Brain

first key point

Early explorations of an autistic disorder

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Leo Kanner, the first English-speaking psychiatrist who wrote about autism, considered it a biological issue. He examined his patients and their parents to learn specific patterns and symptoms of the disorder. Later on, he changed his opinion and wrote that the disorder had roots in the psychological field.

Another researcher who examined autism was Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger. He listed specific symptoms that come with the disorder, and the scientific community started to recognize autism more often. Kids who had resembling symptoms, like shyness or excessive enthusiasm about one subject, could be diagnosed with autism disorder even though they didn't have it. With the development of MRI and neurobiology, scientists started to understand which parts of the brain could be “broken,” causing an autistic disorder.

If something’s broken in the brain, you can really start to learn what the various parts do. ~ Temple Grandin

Neurology has to explore the human brain when it doesn't work right to realize which part of it is responsible for our language skills, diverse emotions, memory, and so on. For example, if a person traumatizes the back part of their head, they will most likely experience vision disturbances because the visual cortex is at the back part of the brain. However, an autistic disorder does not entail a broken brain. Some of its parts just don't grow right. After her MRI, Grandin realized that her cerebellum was smaller than in a normal brain, resulting in weak coordination.

Grandin’s MRI also showed that her amygdalae were increased. Since they are responsible for working with emotions, particularly fear, Grandin had acute anxiety throughout her life. One more impressive finding was made by Grandin when the researchers checked her visual cortex activation in comparison to a person without an autistic disorder. When looking at pictures with faces and other subjects, Grandin's brain didn't activate the same way as another person's brain when doing the same.

People with autistic disorders do not strive for human contact. Their brain is not activated enough when they see a human face.

This summary will reveal the real nature of autistic people. We are used to perceiving them as little children who don’t understand much about the world. The truth is that people with an autistic disorder are as intelligent as individuals who don't have it. You will observe how autistic people think about themselves, and how their brain works.

second key point

Different types of sensory perceptions in autistic people

While trying to identify the biological patterns of an autistic disorder, scientists paid attention to DNA copy number variations or CNVs. They hoped to find specific genetic mutations that were responsible for autism development. The researchers noticed that there existed numerous CNVs possibly linked to an autistic disorder. The problem was that different types of mutations connected to autism were not encountered more than twice. Kids with an autistic disorder had distinct mutations in distinct genes. Another issue is that autism shares specific mutations with other disorders, including epilepsy and schizophrenia. So, behaviors that occur during an autistic disorder also frequently coincide with behaviors inherent to people with different diagnoses.

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third key point

Concentration on limitations impedes self-development

fourth key point

Patterns are everywhere around us, and our brains recognize them

fifth key point

The brain behaves like a muscle

sixth key point

Education limits instead of giving possibilities

seventh key point

Conclusion

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What is The Autistic Brain about?

"The Autistic Brain" explores the unique perspectives and abilities of individuals with autism, shedding light on the inner workings of their minds. Temple Grandin, a renowned autism advocate and Richard Panek, delve into the science behind autism, discussing the latest research and offering practical strategies to help individuals with autism thrive in a neurotypical world. This insightful book challenges societal misconceptions and provides a compassionate understanding of the autistic experience.

Who should read The Autistic Brain

Parents and caregivers of children with autism seeking guidance and understanding.
Educators and professionals working with individuals on the autism spectrum.
Individuals with autism looking for insights and self-empowerment.

Topics in The Autistic Brain

Autism Neurodiversity Special Education Child Development Psychology Education Parenting Mental Health Neurology Social Skills Communication Sensory Processing Empathy Diversity and Inclusion Learning Disabilities

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