is autism an extreme of the male brain? simon baron-cohen autism research centre cambridge...
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Is autism an extremeof the male brain?
Is autism an extremeof the male brain?
Simon Baron-CohenSimon Baron-Cohen
Autism Research CentreAutism Research Centre
Cambridge UniversityCambridge University
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Triad of difficultiesTriad of difficulties
SocialSocial CommunicationCommunication Imagining Imagining others others
mindsminds
EmpathizingEmpathizing
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Triad of strengthsTriad of strengths
Islets ofIslets of obsessionsobsessions repetitive repetitive
abilityability with systemswith systems behaviourbehaviour
SystemizingSystemizing
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The autistic spectrum: two subgroupsThe autistic spectrum: two subgroups
Classic autismClassic autism Any point on the IQ scaleAny point on the IQ scale Involves language delayInvolves language delay
Asperger SyndromeAsperger Syndrome Individuals of normal IQ or aboveIndividuals of normal IQ or above No language delayNo language delay
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Genetics of autismGenetics of autism
Twin studiesTwin studies
Sibling risk ratesSibling risk rates
The ‘broader phenotype’The ‘broader phenotype’
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Autism: the sex ratio Autism: the sex ratio
Autism spectrum: 4:1 (male:female)Autism spectrum: 4:1 (male:female)
Asperger Syndrome: 9:1Asperger Syndrome: 9:1
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Hans Asperger (1944)Hans Asperger (1944)
““The autistic personality is an extreme variant The autistic personality is an extreme variant of male intelligence…of male intelligence…
In the autistic individual the male pattern is In the autistic individual the male pattern is exaggerated to the extreme”exaggerated to the extreme”
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Sex vs. GenderSex vs. Gender
Pre 1960’s: Pre 1960’s: ‘‘Gender’ referred to the inflection of nounsGender’ referred to the inflection of nouns
1972: 1972: John Money distinguished ‘sex’ from ‘gender’ John Money distinguished ‘sex’ from ‘gender’ The John/Joan case (David Reimer) (1965-2004)The John/Joan case (David Reimer) (1965-2004)
Today in the US: Today in the US: ‘‘gender’ has replaced ‘sex’, as if it is a synonymgender’ has replaced ‘sex’, as if it is a synonym
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(At least) 6 ways to think about sex(At least) 6 ways to think about sex
Chromosomal sexChromosomal sex Gonadal sexGonadal sex Brain sex Brain sex Gender identityGender identity Gender behaviourGender behaviour Sexual orientationSexual orientation
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Sex differences in the mind: the classical viewSex differences in the mind: the classical view
Spatial ability (right hemisphere)Spatial ability (right hemisphere) males > femalesmales > females
Language (left hemisphere)Language (left hemisphere) females > malesfemales > males
Mathematical abilityMathematical ability males > femalesmales > females
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Boys > girls:Toy vehicles, constructional toys, and mechanical toys
Girls > boys:Dolls, enacting social and emotional themes
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Males > females:
maths, computing, physics, engineering, tool-making
Females > males:
Primary school teaching, nursing, social work, counselling
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Two psychological processesTwo psychological processes
Empathizing (E)Empathizing (E)
identify a person’s thoughts and feelingsidentify a person’s thoughts and feelings respond to these with an appropriate emotionrespond to these with an appropriate emotion
Systemizing (S)Systemizing (S)
analyse or build a system analyse or build a system mechanical, natural, abstract, collectiblemechanical, natural, abstract, collectible
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Different profilesDifferent profiles
S > E : more common in males?S > E : more common in males?
E > S : more common in females?E > S : more common in females?
S >> E : more common in autism?S >> E : more common in autism?
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EmpathizingEmpathizing
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SystemizingSystemizing
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The Empathy Quotient (EQ): examplesThe Empathy Quotient (EQ): examples
I really enjoy caring for peopleI really enjoy caring for people
People often tell me I went too far in People often tell me I went too far in driving my point home in a discussiondriving my point home in a discussion
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The Empathy Quotient (max = 80)The Empathy Quotient (max = 80)
meanmean sdsd
FemalesFemales 47.247.2 10.210.2
MalesMales 41.841.8 11.211.2
ASAS 20.420.4 11.611.6
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The Systemizing Quotient (SQ): examplesThe Systemizing Quotient (SQ): examples
When I listen to a piece of music, I always When I listen to a piece of music, I always notice the way it’s structurednotice the way it’s structured
If there was a problem with the electrical If there was a problem with the electrical wiring in my home, I’d be able to fix it wiring in my home, I’d be able to fix it myselfmyself
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The Systemizing Quotient (SQ)(max = 80)The Systemizing Quotient (SQ)(max = 80)
meanmean sdsd
FemalesFemales 24.124.1 9.59.5
MalesMales 30.330.3 11.711.7
ASAS 35.935.9 15.215.2
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+1
0
+3
+1-2-3
-1
-1
-2
-3
+2 +3
+2
Empathizing
Syste
mizin
g
Extreme S
Type B
Type E
Type S
Extreme E
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Look at individuals, not their sex
Scatter plot of EQ and SQ scores
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Type EType E
(E > S)(E > S)
Type BType B
(E = S)(E = S)
Type SType S
(S > E)(S > E)
Extreme SExtreme S
(S >> E)(S >> E)
MenMen 1717 2323 5454 66
WomenWomen 4444 3636 1717 00
ASAS 11 77 2727 6565
Percentage showing each brain type
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sarcastic stern
suspicious dispirited
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preoccupied
insisting imploring
grateful
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Eyes Test (max = 25)Eyes Test (max = 25)
xx sdsd
FemalesFemales 22.122.1 2.0 2.0
MalesMales 19.519.5 2.62.6
ASAS 16.616.6 2.92.9
FathersFathers 17.317.3 1.61.6
MothersMothers 18.918.9 2.12.1
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females > males
males > females
fMRI whilst empathizing
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Finding the target (speed)Finding the target (speed)
meanmean sdsd
FemalesFemales 66.766.7 36.736.7
MalesMales 46.2 46.2 20.520.5
ASAS 32.232.2 27.027.0
FathersFathers 32.832.8 17.717.7
MothersMothers 48.648.6 31.831.8
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Sex differences whilst systemizing
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Eye contact at 12-18 months oldEye contact at 12-18 months old
mean mean sdsd
Girls Girls 22.022.0 12.112.1
Boys Boys 16.116.1 10.010.0
AutismAutism 5.35.3 2.22.2
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Testing for sex differences in newborns
Testing for sex differences in newborns
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% of babies showing a looking preference% of babies showing a looking preference
FaceFace MobileMobile EqualEqual
Girls Girls 3636 1717 4747
BoysBoys 2525 4343 32 32
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Biological mechanismsBiological mechanisms
Foetal testosteroneFoetal testosterone Animal researchAnimal research Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)(CAH)
GeneticsGeneticsTurner’s Syndrome (XO)Turner’s Syndrome (XO)
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Amniocentesis: testing Geschwind’s theoryAmniocentesis: testing Geschwind’s theory
Foetal testosteroneFoetal testosterone
influences influences
lateralizationlateralization
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Foetal testosterone predictsFoetal testosterone predicts
eye contact (12 m)eye contact (12 m)
language (18 m)language (18 m)
social relationships (48 m)social relationships (48 m)
Narrow interests (48 m)Narrow interests (48 m)
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Assortative mating of two systemizers? Assortative mating of two systemizers? Both parents faster on the Embedded Both parents faster on the Embedded
Figures TestFigures Test
Both parents have a higher AQBoth parents have a higher AQ
Both parents have higher rate of Both parents have higher rate of engineering among their fathersengineering among their fathers
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The ‘autistic spectrum’: brain type S?
Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)
The ‘autistic spectrum’: brain type S?
Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)
xx s.d.s.d.
ASAS 35.835.8 6.56.5
MathematiciansMathematicians 21.521.5 6.46.4
Males Males 17.817.8 6.86.8
FemalesFemales 15.415.4 5.75.7
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“The curious incident of the dog in the night”“The curious incident of the dog in the night”
rate of autismrate of autism
Maths studentsMaths students 1.8%1.8%
General populationGeneral population 0.5%0.5%
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+1
0
+3
+1-2-3
-1
-1
-2
-3
+2 +3
+2
Empathizing
Syste
mizin
g
Extreme S
Type B
Type E
Type S
Extreme E
Summary
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Some of our teamSome of our team
GeneticsGenetics Lindsey KentLindsey KentPsychological tests Psychological tests Sally Wheelwright, Ofer GolanSally Wheelwright, Ofer GolanFoetal testosteroneFoetal testosterone Rebecca Knickmeyer Rebecca Knickmeyer
Svetlana LutchmayaSvetlana LutchmayaNew born babiesNew born babies Jennifer ConnellanJennifer Connellan
Anna BaktiAnna BaktiNeuroimagingNeuroimaging Ed Bullmore, Chris AshwinEd Bullmore, Chris Ashwin
Howard RingHoward Ring
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www.autismresearchcentre.com
For more information, visit
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