Comments on: The amygdala, babies, and Autism http://babyshrink.com/2009/05/the-amygdala-babies-and-autism.html Child and parent development by licensed psychologist, Dr. Heather. Thu, 10 May 2012 19:00:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Barbara http://babyshrink.com/2009/05/the-amygdala-babies-and-autism.html/comment-page-1#comment-3330 Barbara Wed, 20 May 2009 02:03:00 +0000 http://babyshrink.com/?p=566#comment-3330 I saw the news article on this study, too, and the inner geek in me stirred. Very interesting to read your thoughts here, and those of Jay (will go visit him after commenting). I was thinking along the lines of a failure to prune properly after birth - resulting in an apparent 'overgrowth' and less organized behavior. I've also commented on (Kristina Chew's blog) that until underlying neurological differences for autistic behavior are found, the best treatments are undiscovered. Just a couple of my thoughts. I saw the news article on this study, too, and the inner geek in me stirred. Very interesting to read your thoughts here, and those of Jay (will go visit him after commenting).

I was thinking along the lines of a failure to prune properly after birth – resulting in an apparent ‘overgrowth’ and less organized behavior.

I’ve also commented on (Kristina Chew’s blog) that until underlying neurological differences for autistic behavior are found, the best treatments are undiscovered. Just a couple of my thoughts.

]]> By: Dr. Heather http://babyshrink.com/2009/05/the-amygdala-babies-and-autism.html/comment-page-1#comment-3314 Dr. Heather Tue, 12 May 2009 19:38:02 +0000 http://babyshrink.com/?p=566#comment-3314 Hi Jay, Great to see you here. Jay, you've been a great support and inspiration to me in getting BabyShrink off the ground! Who knew you also had this deep knowledge about fetal brain development, too?! But yes, of course, the amygdala has long been known to be a powerful force in social development. What's really exciting about this particular branch of research is that, for the first time, we see structural proof of divergence from normal development happening as early as the first year of life. We as clinicians are always looking for ways to diagnose -- and treat -- this disorder as early as possible. That makes for better outcomes. Many today worry about vaccines and autism. Although the point of this research is certainly not to relieve vaccines from any fault, the findings do point in a different direction. Perhaps there is an environmental factor at play, in-utero, as you suggest. Or perhaps this is genetic. That is still unknown. But it's exciting to be able to get one step closer to some answers! Hi Jay,

Great to see you here. Jay, you’ve been a great support and inspiration to me in getting BabyShrink off the ground! Who knew you also had this deep knowledge about fetal brain development, too?!

But yes, of course, the amygdala has long been known to be a powerful force in social development. What’s really exciting about this particular branch of research is that, for the first time, we see structural proof of divergence from normal development happening as early as the first year of life. We as clinicians are always looking for ways to diagnose — and treat — this disorder as early as possible. That makes for better outcomes.

Many today worry about vaccines and autism. Although the point of this research is certainly not to relieve vaccines from any fault, the findings do point in a different direction. Perhaps there is an environmental factor at play, in-utero, as you suggest. Or perhaps this is genetic. That is still unknown. But it’s exciting to be able to get one step closer to some answers!

]]> By: Jay Greathouse http://babyshrink.com/2009/05/the-amygdala-babies-and-autism.html/comment-page-1#comment-3312 Jay Greathouse Tue, 12 May 2009 17:40:43 +0000 http://babyshrink.com/?p=566#comment-3312 My understanding of the amygdala is that it is the first and oldest site for memory, developing around the 10th week when an embryo graduates to fetus status. Some seem to relate this to the "lizard" brain and distinguish it from conscious memory that develops much later (3-4 years old?). This suggests to me that amygdala memory starts in the womb and would be greatly influenced by neonatal conditions, making the care and support of pregnant women a primary concern in its healthy development. This seems to me to be the position of Lloyd deMause, the pioneer of psychohistory, and implicated by him as a significant driver of human social development. Is all of this just too much out in right field or could this be relevant to autism? My understanding of the amygdala is that it is the first and oldest site for memory, developing around the 10th week when an embryo graduates to fetus status. Some seem to relate this to the “lizard” brain and distinguish it from conscious memory that develops much later (3-4 years old?).

This suggests to me that amygdala memory starts in the womb and would be greatly influenced by neonatal conditions, making the care and support of pregnant women a primary concern in its healthy development.

This seems to me to be the position of Lloyd deMause, the pioneer of psychohistory, and implicated by him as a significant driver of human social development.

Is all of this just too much out in right field or could this be relevant to autism?

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