tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post3399681078289558707..comments2024-03-29T08:14:42.258+01:00Comments on Epiphany: Talents and SavantsPeter Lloyd-Thomashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10173383229834614994noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-8230935635500201542016-05-20T09:43:54.110+02:002016-05-20T09:43:54.110+02:00Thanks Tyler, it is interesting. I recall another...Thanks Tyler, it is interesting. I recall another study showing that one NMDA dysfunction was corrected by baclofen acting via GABAb receptors. That surprised me. So much is possible, but it remains rather trial and error until there is a complete understanding of the science.<br /><br />There are not that many safe drugs and so a little experimentation is a realistic option to fine tune a person's unique GABA/NMDA/AMPA altered homeostasis. Peter Lloyd-Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173383229834614994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-58079523343242915862016-05-20T05:41:12.901+02:002016-05-20T05:41:12.901+02:00Well my son is 7 now and almost done with first gr...Well my son is 7 now and almost done with first grade. He has some speech, but nothing conversational (he does try though). In terms of talents, the best I can think of is that he now likes to use two ipads (his brother and sisters have them as well) where he will use one pad to record something else being viewed on the other ipad (some clip he likes), then upload it to youtube. Then he will play these short clips he recorded for his own amusement at later times. He also likes to record stuff outside in the backyard sometimes as well and gets very excited about it. Not so sure that I would call this a savant skill, but it is what he loves to do the most these days.<br /><br />On another note, there is an interesting paper on depression where they think they now understand why ketamine helps instantly cure depression in a lot of people:<br /><br />http://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(16)00096-2/abstract<br /><br />How this is relevant to autism, is that what they found was that in their mouse model they showed that both the GABAergic theory of depression as well as the Glutamatergic theory of depression may be both right at the same time. What seems to happen is that in this model a GABA receptor subunit is dysfunctional (gamma 2) and this decreases GABA signaling, but due to a homeostatic compensation for this defect, glutamatergic signaling (NMDA, AMPA), gets downregulated as well. To rescue depression, both the GABA dysfunction and glutamatergic dysfunction both need to be addressed at the same time even though GABA dysfunction seems to be the root cause of the problem (i.e. fix the GABA dysfunction and you still have the downregulated excitatory receptors) yet ketamine by some miracle seems to fix both problems at the same time (fixing the GABA subunit dysfunction while at the same time restoring glutamatergic signaling).<br /><br />With respect to autism, this is some food for thought in thinking about the multiple and concurrent steps that might need to be achieved to get the best out of cognition. Like in depression, simply, addressing the GABA issue or vice versa might not do much if anything and to get a good outcome you might have to deal with the whole cascade of problems that might have a root cause, but still need to be treated nevertheless. Just something to think about.Tylernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-9171830518940161802016-05-19T18:54:45.855+02:002016-05-19T18:54:45.855+02:00Keep up the good work Jane and watch your son'...Keep up the good work Jane and watch your son's talents develop. As you point out, what matters most is developing your strengths.Peter Lloyd-Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173383229834614994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-17031436900235865812016-05-19T17:47:52.198+02:002016-05-19T17:47:52.198+02:00My kid is 4yo and is good with patterns / codes. H...My kid is 4yo and is good with patterns / codes. He doesn't only align objects, he organizes into matrix (color and size for exemple), and is able to organize a 15 pieces puzzle in the sequence he intends to assemble it.<br />He learned to read music partitions and associate this with the piano keyboard by his second music class. He reads, memorizes the song (frequently in one shot) and then plays. He also knows several written words (about 50 that we are aware off, but he is always surprising us with new ones). He can also write and associate these words with images or objects. <br />But he is non verbal, and doesn't use his written vocabulary to communicate yet (and school is pushing for PECS not alphabetization). <br />He is also at ease with numbers.<br /><br />His educators at school work on development plans based on what they think he should know at this age. But they seem to see only what he can't do, and rarely try to leverage his learning with his natural interests and aptitudes. <br /><br />So in our case its up to us to find and foster whatever talent our kid has. Even if its not something impressive, it will certainly allow for happy and satisfying times. Good enough for me.<br /><br />Nice post. Such a relevant but disregarded point...<br /><br />Cheers,<br /><br />Jane.<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-51332855929927397242016-05-19T13:49:45.166+02:002016-05-19T13:49:45.166+02:00Thanks JB, but that one also does not work. My or...Thanks JB, but that one also does not work. My original one does not work because it links to a java script on another google server that has been deleted. So I have asked whether it can be put back.Peter Lloyd-Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173383229834614994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-72936807684787403302016-05-19T10:25:31.599+02:002016-05-19T10:25:31.599+02:00I know it stopped working for some reason and then...I know it stopped working for some reason and then the Index by Subject failed. All the tools for blogger are free and so things are not perfect (ie not fully compatible or have silly bugs). The search now works. The index may have got too big and exceeded a limit somewhere, that software is free from a third party. I expect I will solve it.Peter Lloyd-Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173383229834614994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-86661840912990304002016-05-19T03:16:28.754+02:002016-05-19T03:16:28.754+02:00Hi Peter,
I am having a problem with the search ...Hi Peter, <br /><br />I am having a problem with the search function on the homepage. Simply will not load, and comes back with a message to try later. Has been going on for a couple of months now. I wonder if others are experiencing this as well. Any solutions?RGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07458829468580940361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-86513563355128328862016-05-18T20:45:38.638+02:002016-05-18T20:45:38.638+02:00Here is something that might be worth trying:
htt...Here is something that might be worth trying:<br /><br />http://helplogger.blogspot.com/2013/12/add-sitemap-table-of-contents-to-blogger.html<br /><br />JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17769827238808423873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-65899031713795727842016-05-18T20:20:23.124+02:002016-05-18T20:20:23.124+02:00Thanks JB, that index uses a java script on anothe...Thanks JB, that index uses a java script on another server, which seems no longer to be active.Peter Lloyd-Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10173383229834614994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-655962722302095847.post-73149840583250663642016-05-18T18:55:06.539+02:002016-05-18T18:55:06.539+02:00Hi Peter,
It appears the the "Index by Subje...Hi Peter,<br /><br />It appears the the "Index by Subject" section is not working. At least it hasn't worked for me in a while. I've tried Edge, Chrome, and Firefox and none seem to be working.<br /><br />Just a heads up. Maybe it's just on my end.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17769827238808423873noreply@blogger.com