EXPLORING THE AUTISTIC BRAIN

In another wide ranging conversation, Prof Rajesh Kana, author of the recent book 'The Neuroscience of Autism' walks us through this potentially complex subject. After definitions we talk about overlaps with other conditions, especially ADHD, and how this is worked with in brain imaging studies. We talk about competing causal hypotheses the varied use of the MRI brain scanner to image structures, pathways, chemical concentrations and local energy use. The examination that perhaps has the most potential is pathways, relating to what has recently been labelled 'the connectome' - the more complex the behaviour or demand (and effective social interaction is demanding) the more areas of the brain effectively engaged, and so efficient connection, nerve pathways, are key. This has been applied in investigation of 'theory of mind'. Other areas discussed include gender difference in diagnosis, the importance of glial cells and animal models of autism and whether or not the concept of autism will survive into the future. Great introduction to an area of brain research still in its early stages

Participants:

Rajesh Rana is Distinguished Professor of Psychology and the Associate Dean for Graduate and Continuing Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham https://scholars.uab.edu/2730-rajesh-kana

Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Rajesh's book 'The neuroscience of autism' https://shop.elsevier.com/books/the-neuroscience-of-autism/kana/978-0-12-816393-1?format=print&utm_source=google_ads&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=ukpmax&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21073979696

Opening and closing theme- extract from the Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Instagram: #brainlandcollective

Sketch by KB

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