Autism is a neuro-biological developmental disorder that's associated with a range of developmental problems, mainly with social interaction impairment, speech and language deficits and restricted and repetitive pattern of behaviors. I have been intrigued by the miraculous, resilient capability of the brain to develop new connections and functions. We call this ability brain plasticity.
An increasing number of studies detail how the brain can reorganize its neural circuits to develop such activities as language, reading and social tasks. Several neuroscience studies are pointing out that social interaction impairment, one of the symptom domains in autism, may be a result of a dysfunctional frontostriatal limbic system. Frontostriatal circuits are neural pathways that connect frontal lobe regions with the basal ganglia that mediate motor, cognitive, behavioral and emotional processes within the brain (Alexander et al., 1986, 1990). Imaging studies sustain that the anatomy of the frontostriatal limbic system is abnormal in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (Courchesne and Pierce, 2005).
Findings using fMRI support the hypothesis that stimulation of the frontostriatal and frontolimbic reward system induced by behavioral reinforcement may make changes in cerebral function that lead to improvement in social interaction.
It would be interesting to further study the correlation of the behavioral reinforcement during cognitive tasks achievement and social interaction tasks and brain activation. One new experiment successfully shows how individuals with Asperger’s disorders can improve their social interaction behavior deficits by activation of areas in the brain responsible for attention and arousal by behavioral reinforcement (Schmitz, et. al., 2008).
Based on brain plasticity, there are emerging therapeutic options that integrate applied behavioral analysis and cerebral stimulation for the treatment of individuals with autism.For example, some studies have shown that behavioral intervention and neuro-stimulation (e.g. Neurofeedback, brain gym and auditory integration training) especially during the pre-school period could impact neural systems related to several symptom domains such as verbal behavior and hyperactivity ( Bock & Goode, 2003).
Below is an illustration of a case of brain plasticity.
12 comments:
Dear Dr Monegro:
I was excited to find your blog! Please check out my blog, autismtomorrows.blogspot.com, which focuses on autism and plasticity issues. You are right to recognize the possibilities here but off the mark in assuming that "behavioral" treatments are the best way to make inroads. I hope you take a moment to check it out. Thanks!
Jill Escher
Dialectial Behaviour Therapy,,, DBT... is a great place to start, Has any one else noticed that Borderline Personality Disorder BPD, Has the same symptoms, eg: self harm! So many mental health workers, psychiatrists & psycholigists are misdiagnosing people with BPD, when the correct thing that they should be diagnosed with is Autism Spectrum Disorder, not BPD.
BPD is a problem with the Lymbic System of the Brain... REF Dr Leyland Heller. see his website www.biologicalunhappiness.com Look at this website for further information. thanks bec.
If further studies are successful, and the therapy combined with all the stimulation to the brain people with autism might really improve their lives and help them a lot with social interaction.
Plasticity in reality is like a miracle. Who would think right after the operation the child starts walking. Its so powerful that the working side of the brain takes over. In this world their are some things we just cant explain.
I never really understood how amazing our brain really is. After watching this video I came to really appreciate what our brain is capable of. Jodie recieved a drastic surgery called hemispherectomy in order for her to function normally like she use to but due to epileptic seizures she was unable to. Who would of ever thought that after taking out half of her brain, she would be able to still function. Her brain was able to change shape to replace the lost neurons so it can function normally; this is called plasticity. Once her right hemisphere was taken out that side of the cavity was filled with spinal fluid. A few days after that life changing surgery Jodie was able to walk out the hospital. Dr.Ben Carson stated " its a bad thing that we have to do but its for an extremely good cause" ; yes it was and i bet jodie would be able to say so also.
All her seizures came from her right hemisphere basically she was suffering from a brain disorder the only solution was to take out her right side of the brain which made her unable to use the left side of her body. But going to back brain Plasticity this procedure would have to be done carefully and her surgery went flawless. Amazing how the brain can find new ways to
function and develop new
conncetions
David garcia
All her seizures came from her right hemisphere basically she was suffering from a brain disorder the only solution was to take out her right side of the brain which made her unable to use the left side of her body. But going to back brain Plasticity this procedure would have to be done carefully and her surgery went flawless. Amazing how the brain can find new ways to function and develop new conncetions
David Garcia
There are emerging therapeutic options for treatment of individuals with autism based on the concept of brain plasticity. Brain plasticity is the ability of the brain to invent and reinvent itself. When parts of the brain lose their function or are removed, the brain can compensate for the loss by recruiting its retained parts to take over the role of damaged or lost parts. A remarkable example of this phenomenon is the story of nine year old Jodie Miller. Jodie Miller was born normal and healthy, and enjoyed a normal childhood up until the age of three. At that point she began to experience debilitating epileptic seizures on the left side of her body. Her doctors realized the seizures were caused by abnormal activity in the right hemisphere of her brain. They concluded that the only way to bring an end to the seizures was to remove the right hemisphere of her brain. After Jodie's surgery, she no longer experienced seizures. Moreover, she began to develop normal function of the left side of her body. This is despite the absence of her right brain, which normally controls the function of the left side of the body. In a remarkable example of brain plasticity, Jodie's left brain adapted in order to take over the control of the left side of the body.
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First of all I would like thank Dr. Monegro for sharing such an valuable and informative video regarding the brain plasticity. It is a miracle that the girl have a new life after the surgery. It is amazing to know how brain works and what doctors did to save her life. I felt so sorry for the girl in the beginning of the video. I almost cried watching her falling down due to the seizure. What an excellent job by the neurologist, neurosurgeon, and the medical team to save her life. Once again thank you so much for sharing the video and wish Jodi good luck for her bright future.
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