How your body does your thinking

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Here's something interesting I read recently:

it is very interesting

Interesting.

This is interesting too in a semi-contrary or ambiguous way:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1172/does-the-head-remain-briefly-conscious-after-decapitation

Really great article there. And really enforces what I believe Autism to be. Not a cognitive disorder,[I have met way
to many on the spectrum that were smarter than me] , but a problem with the way the mind processes movement.

Maybe I am misunderstanding the word cognitive, I associate it with intelligence and the ability to understand something.
My whole family is somewhere on the spectrum, these are not dumb people but very intelligent.

I take my middle son for example. He is a non-verbal autistic at the moment. I have been working with
on the computer because he shows interest. He however finds it difficult to use a mouse. He however understands
how a computer interacts. I didn't realize this until my work gave me an Iphone. And I let him play with it, I was amazed
that he could interact with this better and was having a blast. Then it dawned on me what was different between an
Iphone and my personal computer? It was the movement involved and the tracking.

A mouse usage can be broken down into 7 steps:
1. See object of interaction
2. Raise hand from keyboard or resting position.
3. Place hand on mouse
4. Make eye contact with cursor
5. Move mouse cursor to object
6. Move finger either left or right depending on what choices you want.[Sometimes even more movement is required]
7. Click
6. Desired result.

A touch device is only four:
1. See object of interaction
2. Raise hand from keyboard or resting position
3. Touch [Just as in step 6 above more movement may be required.]
4. Desired result.

Actually there is probably more movement processing involved with a mouse that I am not noticing. But its not that my son doesn't understand the concept , but I think its all the tracking and movement he has problems with. I am saving up for a touch screen monitor for my computer as I think this will open up the world for him. Right now I operate the mouse and he touches the screen to show me what he wants. One day I am hoping we can overcome , his challenge with the mouse movement. Its like teaching a kid to ride a bike, you put training wheels on it and let them go. And when they are ready you take the training wheels off.

sock, I assume you have used programs like: Pictoselector or other PECS software with your son?

btw get for him an ipod touch or an iPad, there are lots of great stuff in there, PECS software too, and you'll love the mobility of these "mini computers" and of course the touch screen

Thank you for the suggestions computerlove. Yes I have considered the idea. Just waiting for
the costs to be a reality for me.

Actually I am really interested in how technology could be used to help autistic children
and adults. I have a new website / blog about the very subject. Sorry I cant post links yet.
its autismideas dot com.

I am a computer developer by trade, and just trying to expand my knowledge of how to help
my son and others. Input from individuals like yourself I really want to hear and see , if
we can get more people inspired to do it and have a place where we share this information as starting point,
so they dont have to spend days looking for the different information.
There are so many tech resources out there, that I haven't even heard of yet.

^ you're welcome (:
here's some more techy stuff, link, and some more: link
hope it helps your kid

btw you can edit your profile to add your site.

You just Rock computerlove.. Thank you so much
for all those great links.. Also took your advice
and added my website to my profile.. When I signed up
here the website wasn't even thought of.

You are right it might just be the individual. I am no scientist, I just study
my middle son a lot that is non-verbal. And I wonder if problems people
on the spectrum face with social settings is the inability to understand
body language. Or even the ability to block out all the movement that
there is in world. But you would know better than me. I am just
an outsider trying to look in. If you wish you could look at my website
I do have some research as to why I come to the conclusions I do.

Autism Ideas Click on the research links.

I am not trying to be right, I just want to understand and accept and help. I have four
people in my life that are very dear to me , My three sons and my wife, that
all have tendency on the spectrum. My middle son is the most sever as he is non-verbal.
I dont want to change them or make them what they are not, but I see their
struggles that I dont have, and want to find ways that I can make their lives easyier.
And maybe it is just in the case of my family members, I dont claim to be an expert, just
a guy trying to understand.
its a spectrum after all.

Brilliant article, thank you very much for posting it.

Very very interesting.

I think that this connection between the actions/state of our body and our thoughts extends to what the gastrointestinal system is getting up to aswell; I believe that it has a huge impact on our mental state; subjective experience; what we perceive and don't perceive, etc.

Thanks again.

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