Autistic brains 'never daydream'

Post Reply New Topic

My mind is always in three or four places at once, and only one of those is sometimes reality.

I can tune out externali stimuli when I'm deeply engrossed in something. Like right now, I'm writing this message. Everything that is around me seems nonexistent. All I'm focusing on is this message. If an annoying or loud noise interrupted me, sure that'd get me relatively annoyed. But, little noises, like fans or whatever. Those seem completely nonexistent.

I don't get extracted by external stimuli unless I'm upset or annoyed, and then I seem to pick up on every little thing around me. It happens various times throughout the day, but nothing that sets me off, if you know what I mean. I seem to have an ability to hear things others aren't aware of.

- Ray M -

Autistic brains 'never daydream'

Participants underwent brain scans while they carried out tests
People with autism do not daydream, a study has found.
The resting period usually gives time for areas of the brain to process emotional and reflective thoughts.

The University of California research, in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, compared brain scans of people with autism and those without.

The scientists said the typical social awkwardness seen in autism may be due to this failure of this "daydreaming" brain network.

This study sheds further light on the neurological factors involved in autism

Richard Mills, National Autistic Society

Several regions of the brain are highly active during these periods - including the medial prefrontal cortex, the rostral anterior cingulate and the precuneus.

This activity is suppressed when the brain is doing something which demands understanding, or another intellectual process.

'Abnormal processes'

The researchers used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans to monitor brain activity in 15 people with autistic spectrum disorders and 15 healthy people.

While in the scanner, each person carried out a counting task on the computer.

There were 12 30-second test periods interspersed with three 21-second rest periods, where participants were simply asked to look at a fixed image of a cross.

It was found that the activity during rest periods seen in people who did not have autism was absent in those with the condition.

Writing in PNAS, the researchers led by Dr Duncan Kennedy, said: "We speculate that the lack of deactivation in the autism group is indicative of abnormal internally directed processes at rest, which may be an important contribution to the social and emotional deficits of autism."

Richard Mills, director of research for the National Autistic Society and Research Autism, said: "The causes of autism are varied, complex and not yet fully understood.

"This study sheds further light on the neurological factors involved in autism and some of the possible implications for differences in the cognitive profile and social behaviour.

"Such findings will add to our understanding of this spectrum of conditions and it is hoped may also be utilised in the development of effective treatments and other approaches."
from BBC News.