Here’s a brief news bit from The Kaleidoscope (“UAB’s Student Newspaper – Since 1967”) about a study by Mark Klinger over at U. Alabama on brain scans of autistic students while playing videogames.
In the study, males between 13 and 21 from Alabama had their brain activity measured while playing video games that stimulated social interaction. These games were actual competitive games where opponents were also measured for brain activity.
Brain scans of videogame players seem to be hot these days. The autism angle is certainly interesting, and the possibilities for various other diagnoses to be examined under similar conditions (that is, patients with various disorders or conditions playing games then having MRI scans) is rife with research potential.
July 17, 2008 at 8:15 am |
There is (and always has been) a lot of confusion as to what Autism and the Autistic Spectrum Disorders are. This starts with a significant problem with the way Autism is classified; Autism is considered a ‘mental disorder’. Since it has been classified as such since the 1940s, most physicians learn little to nothing about it. Its classification further breaks down Autism to be; an impairment in social interaction, repetitive behaviors and problems communicating. With these ‘defining characteristics’, it is no wonder that these children are placed into a structured special learning environment accompanied by behavior modification with little to no medical intervention.
I understand Autism to be a biochemical and neurological problem that alters the way the brain and body develop, and eventually results in the social, behavioral and communication problems that these individuals experience. These characteristics are symptoms, and the result of a multi-system breakdown that went undiagnosed!
We have let an entire generation of children slip through our fingertips and it is time to mobilize and get them back.If the top three defining characteristics were; under-connected brain circuitry, chronic gastrointestinal dysfunction and underlying autoimmune/inflammatory processes, we would see a very different treatment criteria established for Autism! In fact, based on the research, these three things are the true problems of Autism which eventually lead to the cognitive impairments.
I will be hosting an event in which my colleague, Dr. Michael Gruttadauria will be sharing some important information regarding some ground-breaking news in the treatment of Asperger’s and Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
A free teleconference is being offered on August 14th at 7pm est.
Please go to:
http://JustAskDrMike.com to register for this extremely informative event.