Large foreheads???

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I think Christina Ricci is an aspie.

I think it's just a stereotype.

Perhaps you are right. However, stereotypes usually sprout from a kernel of truth that is then exaggerated. Sometimes, the truth and the stereotype in question correlate.

Just because MANY, perhaps most Aspies have large foreheads does not mean all do, and some indeed do not. That does not make the persons with smaller foreheads any less Aspie nor is it a requisite for Asperger's Syndrome.

However, many Aspies on this forum, perhaps the majority, DO have large foreheads and from what I have seen of Aspies on the Internet and on television documentaries with actual Aspies (movies don't count!) I have noticed that most of those I have seen do have a forehead size larger that that of the population-at-large. That formed the premise of the original post.

I hope this helps!

Phrenologizing crap topic

Both my NT daughters have larger, broader foreheads than I do.

In pictures of me as a child my forehead looks large, probably because children's heads are proportionately larger than their height. The relative size of a baby's head in relation to its body is even larger.

And overall size of the brain is not an accurate indicator of intelligence, unless you are referring to microencephaly. The range of brain/head sizes of humans is the only piece of data that is large, here.

There is a recent British study that begs to differ. They have actually shown empirically that there is a correlation, at least in the comparative size of newborn babies' heads and IQ, and the correlation holds and actually gets stronger as they grow, at least up to a year old or so.

Furthermore, another group of researchers at Caimbridge did a study of cranial circumference as it relates to Aspergers, Autism, and ADHD, attempting to disprove the stereotype, but actually confirmed the correlation, and the cranial sizes were highest among aspies. Here is a link to the article in PDF form.

It has been often mentioned on some psychiatric sites that there is a tendency for aspies/auties to have larger heads (though this is by no means criteria for diagnosis) and a denser concentration of neurons inside them, at least in certain parts of the brain. One theory as to the cause of autism is that this higher density of neurons makes communication between different parts of the brain more difficult, yet is optimized for systemizing and analytical logic, at which most of us seem very adept. In fact, this is part of the logic that led to the Neanderthol Theory of Autism/Aspergers/ADHD.

But to sum it all up, for any stereotype to exist, there has to be at least a small nugget of truth to it.

Edit: I corrected the PDF link as it wasn't working before.

Last edited by LoveableNerd on 19 May 2008, 11:50 am, edited 1 time in total.

Heading in another direction topic

The information provided still does not convince me that large forehead/head equals larger brain equals greater intelligence. For this, a researcher would have to look at a level of brain functioning that goes beyond just examining the amount of gray matter and head circumference. There are many factors to consider. Six hundred babies is an interesting sample, but if the stereotype fits, it would not matter if only six were examined. A stereotype is a prejudice. When we see a person with a large forehead or head size, or even height, we are more willing to hold that person in high regard. I will say this is a positive stereotype. Appearances do matter in this world, and something held in high regard is an advantage. If it works in your favour, use it. If it helps AS Spectrum people, use it.

(I am diagnosed with AS)

What might be interesting is to take 600 babies with less than stellar head circumference sizes and give them early interventions to help them overcome any deficits that might be accrued to them from the researchers with the tape measures. Nurture vs nature.

An interesting topic, LoveableNerd. I am still trying to view the PDF file. (My computer is ancient.) The denser concentration article is a keeper.

Oops! Bad link. I just updated it and it works now.

Head-lines topic

I am glad I took a good look into this subject and viewed a number of websites regarding head circumference and Autism. I am glad nothing was mentioned that correlated head circumference with intellectual prowess, but there was a correlation between size and growth in Autistic boys. There was no mention of girls on the sites I visited. There was a mention of growth hormone being a factor in head circumference size.

I measured my head for the first time in my life and found it to be in the average range for females of my height and bone structure. I would not have worried, even if I was a tad small. At my age I am no longer concerned about size, and a recent EEG indicated no abnormalities (in terms of disease or age-related dementia), so this is comforting news.

As I mentioned in my last post, if a broad/large forehead is seen as a positive attribute, (and there is no disease process [tumor, for example]) then this is an advantage for Autistics.

It's possibly associated with increased testosterone in utero, not necessarily increased testosterone after birth.

My testosterone levels are completely normal, but I show the physical signs associated with increased testosterone in utero. (Oddly enough I am also extremely hairy for a woman, but every time they test me my levels are normal.)

I have often been told that I have a large forehead. I have no opinion on the matter, as it is hard (impossible?) to objectively assess one's own appearance.

How does thinck hair in women have to do with your theory? BTW I basically fit BOTH!

I had VERY thick hair up until perhaps 15! Around 17, I started balding. It got more noticable until about 28.

There IS something interesting though. A lot of people with WIDE heads have short heads, and vice/versa. This makes REAL measurement harder. Still, the brain DOES grow, and it makes sense it would be advantagous to have some room for that.

Still, there ARE a lot of DUMB people with big heads, and smart ones with small heads, so there isn't really a 1:1 correlation.

I don't have a large head but I do have a very tall forehead. My husband has an extremely large head, as does my son. My son had to be delivered via C-section because his head was greater than the 99th percentile and has continued to stay off the charts even at nearly 3. He has macroencephaly and a protruding forehead, so it's very hard for us to find him shirts that his head will fit thru the neck hole.

There is a correlation in my family but I've never met anyone else on the spectrum so I'll just have to go with what the studies say.

I don't think there's a relation.

I have a fairly tall forehead and a very BIG head. I'm also about 6'4" though I'd say my head is still a little out of proportion to my body. Whether these dimensions have any scientific significance regarding autism/Aspergers I'll leave to the experts.