Decoding Autism: Unraveling Early Brain Development with Eric Courchesne

Eric Courchesne, Ph.D., explores autism, highlighting its complexity beyond the brain and its connection to genetics and brain development. He focuses on the "temporal cortex," a crucial area in autism research associated with gene regulation and social processing. Courchesne also shares how his personal journey with polio has informed his thinking on neurodiversity, research, and beating the odds.
Recorded on 11/03/2023. [Show ID: 39171]

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More from: Autism Tree Project Foundation Global Neurodiversity Conference 2023

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[hhwippedcream]

Thank you, Eric! Your work is appreciated and your vulnerability is applauded.

[MaryKDayPetrano]

I also have a comment, and that is the brain organoid findings really de-bunk the Neurotypical saying they use to marginalize Autistic people and our Autism diagnoses, namely "'Everyone's a little bit Autistic." It seems, either you have the brain overgrowth or you don't and either you have the reliable unfolding of the Neurotypical developmental program or you don't.

[MS-pmfe]

Amazing presentation! Thank you for all the work you're doing and for making this information available to the public at no charge

[francismotionless]

I'm 37 years old, and have known I'm autisic since 30. My 9 year old daughter just recently was diagnosed with autism.

[v.melancholia.v]

Thank you for this. What timing too. I just got back from being assessed for autism (f 37). I'm also a neuro major/immu minor at university. I'd love to be apart of your studies, but I am in Australia.

[rayglover]

Thank you for sharing your journey and motivation for exploring neurodiversity and how we can survive as neurodivergent. I always considered my feelings of being different were because of polio at 5 years. I can empathise with the apparent abusive treatment that ultimately has allowed us to live our lives with the appearance of normality. Fortunately my recovery was more complete than Eric and I did not need surgery after my temporary paralysis, though my later accomplishments are miniscule compared with his. Having reached my 8th decade I look back trying to untangle my PTSD from what I now can recognise as an underlying autism that has driven me to an intensity of study to obtain a PhD and an academic career.

If autistic genes were not some how necessary for the survival of us as a species I think they would have been eliminated many millennia ago.

[everpee]

I relearned how to founction with neurofeedback. But I know too many people on the severe end of the spectrum that needs help and no one can at that moment. This is so sad. My life choices are make in that consideration. Noway I will pass my genes to another generation.

[MaryKDayPetrano]

I have a question - did you find out anything that would help with understanding if the prevalence of Autism in females is about the same as in males ?

[sarahb.]

I have autism. I bet they dont want to look into it because its probably caused by some all too common stuff that they or other companies make money off of. Stuff like plastics ( micro plastics are all over the news) or pesticides (sprayed on most foods) or those forever chemicals (tons of products).. And if one figures out the actual cause by looking at the biology what will they do about those products? Theu make fortunes off of that stuff. No huge company wants to stop making their stuff just because some babies they will never know are born with autism due to the parents being exposed to something. Its not them. The rich people dont know the parents or the kids with autism..so they dont care. I have so many allergies to stuff its not funny. Chemical sensitivity. Food allergies. hEDS. Celiac. Corn allergy.

[chuckwhite]

Autism is the opposite condition of Schizophrenia. One has too many neural pathways while the other has too few.