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Executive Functioning, Intelligence & Neuro-Diversity

12/25/2021

Is this distinction between Intelligence and Executive Functioning too simplistic --- it probably is --- BUT it is a BIG STEP UP from where we are at.

This DISTINCTION between INTELLIGENCE and EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING matters for:

Education
Employment, and
Criminal Justice

Further, it matters in unexpected ways which we are NOT sufficiently addressing.

There are INDIVIDUAL RANGES in which Executive Functioning can be IMPROVED.

BUT to do that --- we must be willing to accept the person where they are. What does that do?

It reduces the STRESS and INFLAMMATION for the PERSON and for the SOCIETY as well.

This person is UNLIKELY to become NEURO-TYPICAL --- we're talking about DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES that have sometimes been EXACERBATED by IGNORANCE.

BUT these DEVELOPMENTAL DIFFERENCES often come with their own ATYPICAL STRENGTHS --- and we are NOT sufficiently developing those ATYPICAL STRENGTHS.

The COSTS to the INDIVDUAL and the SOCIETY are EXTREME.

Neurodiversity Informational Series: Executive Functioning and Neurodiversity (April 2021) ---

Looks at the importance of a Strength-Based Approach vs. a Deficit Model

Learning Resource Center South

MISSING THE BOAT

Strength-Based Approach

Keeping the Inflammation Down & Accurate Maps of Reality

12/19/2021

Most Neuro-Diverse People are coming with more NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION.
They are often coming with some EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES.

This IDEA of MORE ACCURATE MAPS is a big idea behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and it has helped many people.

The PROBLEM is that some of MENTAL HEALTH's CURRENT MAPS aren't ACCURATE.

Further those inaccurate maps are doing much more harm in some cases than the Mental Health Profession appears to realize.

If that PERFECT MAP is down the road, INCLUSION should be the next step.

Migraine and neuroinflammation:
the inflammasome perspective

Conclusion
Neuroinflammatory pathways, specifically those involving inflammasome proteins, seem promising candidates as treatment targets, and perhaps even biomarkers, in migraine.

Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing

Migraine is largely accepted to be an inherited tendency for the brain to lose control of its inputs.

Basic and Clinical Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College, London, United Kingdom;
Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Department of Neurology,
University of Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany; and
Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bern-Inselspital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland

What's the Point of the Studies Below?

The new maps of psychiatric disorders tend not to rely as much on distinct categories --- BUT more and more researchers appear to be focusing on BROADER BIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS such as:
- Inflammation, especially Maternal Immune Activation, Trauma, Toxins, etc. and
- Sensory Processing
But if that Sensory Processing is ramped up --- you may be "SENSITIVE" --- in more ways than one.

Blue Sky Science: How Does Your Brain Think?

In order for your brain to think, you need nerve cells that can detect information about the outside world and can transmit that information to other nerve cells.

It’s the transmission of information, the cells talking to each other, that’s the fundamental physical basis for how thinking works.

Maternal Immune Activation and Neuropsychiatric Illness:

A Translational Research Perspective (2018)

Affiliation
1From the New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University Medical Center, New York; the Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich-Vetsuisse, Zurich; and the Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.

The Surprising Link Between Migraines and Mental Health

But is that as surprising as . . .

Celiac Disease & Sensitivities, the Immune System & Mental Health

Physical Health Issues, the Immune System & Mental Health

Intelligence, Giftedness --- More complicated than we thought?

12/12/2021

What is "INTELLIGENCE"? It is becoming more and more obvious that it is NOT what we "think":

Neuro-Diverse People (Can be Highly Emotional, Have High Logic Skills, and Have Difficulties in One or More Areas of Executive Functioning), and
More Perceived Neuro-Typical People (often not as far from that Neuro-Diverse Person as they might want to think)

"GIFTED" and The Principle of Least Effort

When "Gifted and Talented" as a concern in EDUCATION started it was largely perceived to be an UNQUALIFIED GOOD -- and it probably still is in the general public .

BUT the father of "Giftedness" Theory --- introduced this concept of "Over-Excitabilities" and that Gifted People had this tendency to EMOTIONALLY CRASH --- "POSITIVE DISINTEGRATION and PERSONAL GROWTH."

"Individuals with strong developmental potential tend to experience frequent and intense crises (positive disintegrations) that create opportunities for the development of an autonomous, self-crafted personality."
- This is spun about as "POSITIVELY" as you can, but why are these people having so many CRISES?
- I would submit it is because they have Lower Executive Functioning in one or more areas and they are needing to pull in more Sensory Information ---
- BUT that can lead to OVERLOAD and a MELTDOWN.
- You do become a more independent thinker because you've had to be --- there are a number things you may not be able to do on AUTOMATIC.
- On the other hand, if you and the society believe that there are NO LIMITS if you just TRY HARD ENOUGH --- you may be headed for a DISASTER.

The PROs and Cons of Where We Seem to Be Headed

Pros

We're starting to recognize "this" is more COMPLICATED than we thought (that hardly ever happens, right?) 
- That is exceedingly important --- because the MAP I was given of "giftedness" has NOT MATCHED the TERRAIN I have travelled -- and I don't think I'm the only one that got "LOST."
"Gifted" People are NOT some STANDARD of PERFECTION --- that's important for everyone to know.

Cons

We are Half-Way Down the Road to Defining "Intellectually Gifted People" OUT of our category of "Intelligence"--- which would be HILARIOUS if it weren't so SAD and DANGEROUS.
We are starting to recognize the COMPLICATED NATURE of "Intelligence" --- in the EXTREMES but we haven't been able to take it MAINSTEAM.
- MEANING --- these issues are NOT JUST in the "GIFTED" Population --- BUT it may be easier to see in the EXTREME.

How our "TRADITIONAL WRONG ASSUMPTIONS" play out in the person with a Neuro-Developmental Disorder involving Executive Functioning and Psychiatric Disorders.

All people with High Intelligence Have High Executive Functioning
I Have High Intelligence
Therefore, I must have High Executive Functioning

But you're saying that I don't have High Intelligence
because I don't Have High Executive Functioning . . .

BUT I DO HAVE HIGH INTELLIGENCE

[That person is grandiose and doesn't really have too much of a connection to reality]

Kirk, Spock, Scotty and McCoy OUTWIT the Androids

Why Gifted Kids Are Actually Special Needs

I really like this Psychiatrist but I don't buy into this idea that all that is going on is -- gifted kids didn't have to exercise those "study skills."

I think it is much more complicated than that.

AND the point I'm trying to make with the PRINCIPLE of LEAST EFFORT is quite different than the point above.

My take on it is ----

the reason you may have done well in school and/ or identified as "gifted with a lot of potential" was that you had access to a lot of SENSORY INFORMATION --
BUT WHY did you have access to more SENSORY INFORMATION?
I would submit at least in part it was to fill in some gaps in MORE AUTOMATIC EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING --- that's a BIG RANGE.
What were you using that SENSORY INFORMATION for ----- to REASON ---- TO FIND PATTERNS.
BUT your BODY & BRAIN wouldn't have done that to the DEGREE that "they" did ---if you had had access to that AUTOMATIC FUNCTIONING.
Further --- more gifted educators are RECOGNIZING that many gifted kids do have executive functioning issues --- and I think that is much more DEVELOPMENTAL than we've been willing to acknowledge.

Neuro-Diversity and the NEED for MAPS that Reflect Reality

12/9/2021

In Don McLean's song Vincent--- McLean sings ---

Now, I understand what you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they'll listen now

For me, when I learned about artists like Van Gogh or Gauguin who sacrificed and suffered so much for their art--- I was impressed in a way --- BUT I didn't see myself doing that or needing to do that.

But "Now I understand what you tried to say to me."

I think the pursuit of the discipline whatever the discipline is--- is serving at least a couple of functions:

Dopamine Production, and
A Structure for Processing Sensory Information

Ironically, it's People who are PERCEIVED to be NEURO-DIVERSE who often are INCENTIVIZED to talk about EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES or DEFICITS because they need:
*A More Accurate Map, and
*They need to get information and workarounds for their own CHALLENGES (INFORMATION & WORK-AROUNDS are 2 BIG STRESS REDUCERS)------
*while at the same time preventing the society from DEFINING THEM OUT of "INTELLIGENCE."

As a person with "ADHD" and living in an ADHD FAMILY, I know that some people can take medications and some people can't -- EVEN IN THE SAME BIOLOGICAL FAMILY.

AND Regardless, pursuing those DISCIPLINES at your level is a big part of maintaining your mental health and it is often what we consider WORK.

BUT WORK can become quite the challenge if your SUBSTANTIVE STRENGTHS are HIGH and your EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING is Different.

This is another DIMENSION going to the importance of a STRENGTH-BASED APPROACH.

Further, it goes to the importance of finding a fix to the CATCH-22 .to the right

"This Gate Was Meant For You"

Biology: Genes & Immunity
Manchester University Professor Daniel M. Davis

A Common Neuro-Diversity CATCH-22

Big Substantive Strengths in Diverse Areas: Art, Mathematics, Athletics, Music, etc.
Executive Functioning Differences

The CATCH-22:

To remain MENTALLY HEALTHY you need to EXERCISE those STRENGTHS at the LEVEL you are at and push to exceed that. Further, at some point that level can get to be HIGH.
On the other hand,- the price of admission to get past the GATE to EXERCISE those HIGH STRENGTHS is often TRADITIONAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING -- which you don't have.

If we can get a MORE ACCURATE MAP about WHAT'S GOING ON --- that's going to help EVERYONE and it at least has the potential to resolve some conflicts.

Further, I tried to make this point before --- it is not as if there is some PERFECT EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING out there --- if there is I haven't seen it.

BUT ---- I also know just how DAMAGING it can be if you are handed a MAP in young adulthood --- "YOU'RE SMART, GO OUT and DO GOOD in the WORLD" and you have very little understanding of your own CHALLENGES --- and nobody else seems to have very much understanding either.

Neuro-diversity and the blurring of diagnostic categories -- So Many implications

12/2/2021

Conjecture

Our ideas about Neuro-Developmental Disorders such as ADHD and Autism and Psychiatric Disorders are undergoing MAJOR REVISIONS.

The OLD WAY --- the DSM 5 way --- these are all DISTINCT DISORDERS with DISTINCT GENETICS and / or SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS of NEGLECT or ABUSE.

WHAT HAPPENED? The RESEARCH wasn't CORROBORATING these NEAT, DISTINCT CATEGORIES.

Researchers found GENETICS were important -- BUT they were often SHARED across CATEGORIES.

Maternal Immune Activation and Epigenetics are BIG DRIVERS of these DISORDERS as well as Environment.

Further, these "DISORDERS" often involve EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES and SENSORY PROCESSING DIFFERENCES --- that are often NOT BEING WELL IDENTIFIED by the MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSION, the INDIVIDUALS THEMSELVES or the COMMUNITY because people are often NOT fitting into these NEAT, DISTINCT CATEGORIES.

If you were to have asked my parents if I had ADHD or Autism ---- they would have said that was RIDICULOUS --- she's a top student and very empathetic.

On the other hand, if you were to have asked them --- Does Val have problems with organization and emotional regulation? Oh yeah, yeah, yeah --- but she seems to make it work.

Let me just say there are REASONS why I and many others with NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL / PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS have HYPER-CONNECTED BRAINS and one of those REASONS -- we worked it just as hard as we could and we reached our LIMITS and it often wasn't pretty.

I would submit we now have a SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE of the POPULATION with ATYPICAL HIGH LEVELS of DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION and often corresponding EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES.

The PROGNOSIS if we just continue as we have:

EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING ISSUES --- BAD
TRY HARDER

is not good.

We must identify those BIG STRENGTHS that often come with NEURO-DIVERSITY at the same time that we are providing practical WORK-AROUNDS for often IDIOSYNCRATIC EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING CHALLENGES.

Thinking twice about ADHD and autism spectrum disorder (2018)
--goes to the blurred nature of the two neuro-developmental disorders.

Talk delivered by Professor Patrick Bolton, Professor of Child & Adolescent Neuropsychiatry, Department of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London.

Neuro-Diversity, Sensory Processing and Mental health

11/27/2021

Carly Fleishchmann's amazing story is captured on this episode of 20/20.

This does represent an "EXTREME" --- but it is often in the EXTREMES that we are able to understand the significance of basic principles.

ABC News -- 20/20

Non-verbal girl with Autism speaks through her computer

@7:02 of the video above:

"Carly -- Why do Autistic kids cover their ears, flap their hands, hum, and rock?"

Carly types:

"It's a way for us to drown out all sensory input that overloads us all at once. We create output to block out input . . . "

ADHD and Autism are the 2 BIG Neuro-Developmental Disorders --- that are considered BLURRED with psychiatric disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Schizophrenia.

In both ADHD and Autism, there is information and sensory overload.

But see also:

National Migraine Centre -- UK

MIGRAINE

On top of that, what is one of the BIG Physical Manifestations of Psychiatric Disorders: MIGRAINE.

MIGRAINE is now being conceptualized as loss of control of inputs.
Pathophysiology of Migraine: A Disorder of Sensory Processing (2017)
- The pathophysiology of migraine has emerged from a historical consideration of the “humors” through mid-20th century distraction of the now defunct Vascular Theory to a clear place as a neurological disorder.
- It could be said there are three questions: why, how, and when?
- Why: migraine is largely accepted to be an inherited tendency for the brain to lose control of its inputs.
- How: the now classical trigeminal durovascular afferent pathway has been explored in laboratory and clinic; interrogated with immunohistochemistry to functional brain imaging to offer a roadmap of the attack.
- When: migraine attacks emerge due to a disorder of brain sensory processing that itself likely cycles, influenced by genetics and the environment.
- In the first, premonitory, phase that precedes headache, brain stem and diencephalic systems modulating afferent signals, light-photophobia or sound-phonophobia, begin to dysfunction and eventually to evolve to the pain phase and with time the resolution or postdromal phase.
Understanding the nature of psychiatric comorbidity in migraine: a systematic review focused on interactions and treatment implications (2019)
The Link Between Migraine and Mental Health (2021)
Evaluating Psychiatric Disorders Among Adolescents With Chronic Migraine (2021)

Difficult to Treat Chronic Migraine: The Bipolar Spectrum and Personality Disorders
Patients with refractory chronic migraine may also have a high prevalence of comorbidities, including anxiety, depression, bipolar spectrum, and personality disorders.
- How many FORENSIC EVALUATORS are considering MIGRAINE as part of their evaluation?
- WHAT IS A "PERSONALITY DISORDER?"
  - It certainly appears that it has a BIOLOGICAL BASIS
  - In some states it will be the JUSTIFICATION for KILLING a Criminal Defendant
  - In Colorado it will JUSTIFY a BRUTAL SYSTEM of INCARCERATION.
- What is the link between migraine and psychiatric disorders? From epidemiology to therapeutics (2021)
  - Recently, genome-wide association studies gave leads to a genetic common heritability between major depressive disorder and migraine.
- Racial Disparities in Migraine and Headache Care (2021)
- A pilot study by the STAR Institute of Centennial, Colorado found that the 35% of the children in one large sample (n=550) from a gifted and talented center exhibited symptoms of SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder).
  
  This is significantly more than the 5% that pilot studies have found in the general population.

What's the Point?

Well, there are a number of points.
What I'm going to focus on is our SIMPLISTIC VIEW of STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.
Where would some of our great thinkers and artists be without their SENSORY PROCESSING DISORDERS? Maybe not very far.
On the other hand, this can come with some BIG CHALLENGES even in the BEST of CIRCUMSTANCES, much less the widespread IGNORANCE ENVIRONMENT most people find themselves in today.
It's not all good or all bad --- it can be good and bad.
By and large people who are experiencing SENSORY OVERLOAD, are going to need more sophisticated Health Care and Emotional Support and OPPORTUNITIES to DEVELOP some BIG STRENGTHS that may be the result of a lifetime of INFORMATION and SENSORY OVERLOAD.

Neuro-diversity in Culture, Justice and Biology

11/22/2021

South Park has A LOT OF SKEPTICISM about "illness" or "disability" used as an "EXCUSE" for BAD BEHAVIOR.

My sense is they're not necessarily questioning the reality of Tourette's as much as saying Cartman is just a jerk, he doesn't have Tourette's.

In a strange way I agree with South Park -- and in BIG WAYS -- I don't.

When you talk about most of the people in the Criminal Justice System with BRAIN INJURY, MENTAL ILLNESS or NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS --

They intended the crime, and
They weren't psychotic

"ASSESSING INTENT" is what we use and what a lot of animals use to try to protect ourselves.

So if we start saying --- Hey, this BEHAVIOR is the result of an underlying BIOLOGY --- one of the FIRST BIG QUESTIONS to come flying back is ---

Are you tryin' to tell me that so-n-so didn't INTEND this? -- What kind of an IDIOT are you?

AND generally I'm not trying to say that the person didn't intend the crime.

BUT by and large, the person would NOT have intended the crime BUT FOR the BRAIN INJURY, MENTAL ILLNESS, NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDER, etc.

What I am saying is we need to go to the next LINK OF CASUALITY if we really want to provide SAFETY and HUMANE TREATMENT.

That next link is the UNDERLYING BIOLOGY.

Warning: Language Issues

SOUTH PARK: Cartman Has Tourette's Syndrome

Adapting flow to neuro-diversity

11/11/2021

I think it is fairly well established at this point that various types of neuro-diversity can have benefits.
What I'm really riffing off of is Malcolm Gladwell's idea of the beneficial adversity.
I think that has been taken to PERVERSE EXTREMES in our society and goes a long way to explaining HOMELESSNESS and INCARCERATION.
I'm going to be tying this in with ideas of "FLOW."

Benefits of Neurodiversity:
Dyslexia, Autism, & ADHD

I'm not using Facebook as much as I once did --- that really happened before the latest scandals. But when I was prioritizing Facebook --- one of the issues that would come up would be: "IF IT DOESN'T KILL YOU, IT MAKES YOU STRONGER."

A number of people took issue with that --- pointing out it could kill you and even if it didn't kill you --- it could weaken you to such a point as to make your life miserable.

Some of these BROMIDES ("trite and unoriginal ideas or remarks, typically intended to soothe or placate") do tend to inhabit the MENTAL HEALTH WORLD and have often done so out of necessity due to GAPS IN THE KNOWLEDGE BASE.

Further, it is where I think one gets the PRO SOCIAL COMPETENCY RELIGION that has grown up over the last few decades and is very much tied to "PERSONALITY DISORDERS."

ADVERSITY and IGNORANCE

A lot of the ADVERSITY that NEURO-DIVERSE children and adults face is a result of SOCIETAL IGNORANCE.
That IGNORANCE for Children is not as bad as it once was, BUT there is a long way to go.
For NEURO-DIVERSE ADULTS who did not get identified as Children it can turn into a LIVING HELL and set the stage for COMPLEX TRAUMA.
- Nothing like a little COMPLEX TRAUMA to motivate you, right?
"GIFTEDNESS" is a part of NEURO-DIVERSTIY and it's not that surprising. What is surprising is that "GIFTEDNESS" often comes with EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES.
- "This doesn't look SMART, but it must be SMART because we're SMART."
It is appearing that the great bulk of people with PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS are NEURO-DIVERSE
- Came with a lot of DEVELOPMENTAL INFLAMMATION,
- And took on even more "INFLAMMATION" as a result of EPIGENETIC changes to the IMMUNE SYSTEM.
The DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD for NEURO-DIVERSE People is that they are BIOLOGICALLY MORE SENSITIVE and that is FUELING some of their GIFTS.
- On the other hand, it is FUELING ADDITIONAL INFLAMMATION that might be greater for the NEURO-DIVERSE person than it would be for the NEURO-TYPICAL person from the same SOURCE of INFLAMMATION.
So positing a lot of ADVERSITY for NEURO-DIVERSE people to PULL THEMSELVES UP BY THEIR BOOTSTRAPS is probably going to FAIL more than it SUCCEEDS.

Neuro-Diversity in Homelessness & Incarceration

Homelessness --- Neurodiversity Hidden in Plain Sight
Autism and Homelessness --- The Real Crisis
Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Predicts Homelessness in Adulthood
- "Among people diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, the homelessness rate at age 41 was 24%, far higher than in the general population."

ADAPTING FLOW to NEURO-DIVERSITY

Go with the Flow
FLOW is a lot about --- Not Too Hard, Not Too Easy
That often looks different for Neuro-Diverse people than Neuro-Typical people
On the one hand, Neuro-Diverse people can often benefit from some supports and workarounds for EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING
- But that's EASY --- EVERYONE CAN DO THAT --- you don't need support for that --- SOME PEOPLE (in fact a lot of people) need support and workarounds
On the other hand, Neuro-Diverse people can have HIGH NEEDS to develop their STRENGTHS that can be far above the NORM.

This is in line with our Society's continuing ARC of Authenticity and Canadian Psychologist Tayyab Rashid's observation from the research --- "Nobody has it all, nobody lacks it all."

Neurodiversity, genetics, stakeholders, epigenetics and Personality Disorders --- It is way past time to shift those paradigms

11/6/2021

Genetics on the neurodiversity spectrum:

Genetic, phenotypic and endophenotypic continua in autism and ADHD
(2021)

The perspectives of autistic people and people with ADHD continue to be absent from discussions concerning genetics.

Further research actively engaging these stakeholder groups is urgently needed in order to ensure their perspectives are integrated into the aims and claims of future research.

When we talk about Neuro-Developmental Disorders such as ADHD and Autism and/or Psychiatric Disorders such as Bipolar Disorder, Depression or Schizophrenia we're often talking about:

Genetics
Maternal Immune Activation, and
Epigenetics

---and the "CLASSIFICATIONS" themselves can look extremely BLURRED --- even though we sometimes might consider ADHD and Autism --- OPPOSITES.

When we don't get to the UNDERLYING BIOLOGY and just STAY on the SURFACE with CLUSTERS of SYMPTOMS -- it can be difficult to understand how such DIVERSE PRESENTATIONS can have COMMON MECHANISMS.

I'm including this article because it is calling for the INCLUSION of STAKEHOLDERS in the aims and goals of FUTURE RESEARCH.

When we talk about "Anti-Social Personality Disorder" --- EPIGENETICS is relevant.

But are "Anti-Social Personality Disorder" and other "Personality Disorders --- BIOLOGICAL?

It is becoming more and more clear that "PERSONALITY DISORDERS" are BIOLOGICAL --- even as the ENVIRONMENT may have influenced that BIOLOGY.

Epigenetics in Personality Disorders:
Today's Insights
(Frontiers is Psychiatry 2018)

Summary: Epigenetic studies in PD (Personality Disorder) seem to be a useful approach to elucidate the interaction of co-working risk factors in the pathogenesis of personality traits and disorders.

However, the complexity of pathogenesis leads to divergent results and impedes an explicit interpretation.

Differing methylation patterns within the selected PD (Personality Disorders) could indicate subgroups which would benefit from patient-oriented therapeutic adjustments.

They might play a major role in the future design and observation of early therapeutic intervention and thus could help to prevent severe dysfunctional conduct or full-blown personality disorder in risk subjects.

What is Methylation?

"DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that occurs by the addition of a methyl (CH3) group to DNA, thereby often modifying the function of the genes and affecting gene expression."

Universities are in a much better position to INTEGRATE vast amounts of KNOWLEDGE across disciplines than PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS such as the American Psychiatric Association.

On the other hand, CLINICIANS are in a much better position to get that knowledge to ACTUAL PATIENTS.

We need more INVESTMENT and COLLABORATION on those 2 FRONTS.

Photo Credit: CNN

The PSYCHIATRIC DISORDER "CATEGORIES" in the DSM are 1/2 way in the ASHBIN of history and we're waiting for SOMETHING ELSE.

That hasn't come and probably shouldn't come from the AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION --- the DSM had its place in HISTORY and it's time to MOVE ON,

ACADEMICS are in a much better position to provide TEXTBOOKS and MANUALS.

The ROLE OF STAKEHOLDERS such as INDIVIDUALS and CLINICIANS needs to be HASHED OUT.

Having said that, STAKEHOLDERS most want to be HEARD when things are not going well.

Things are not going well in Mental Health on a lot of fronts: UPDATING OUR PARADIGMS COULD HELP A LOT.

Executive Functioning --- Looking for a Strength-based and Equitable Approach

10/29/2021

University of Toronto

Forgetful?

It might actually make you smarter, study says

CONJECTURE

There's a "CLUSTER" of Executive Functioning Differences that often lead to Higher Abilities in one or more areas:

Poor Working Memory (the "Absent Minded Professor")
Differences in Information and Sensory Processing.
Slow Processing that often is the result of greater demands of information and sensory processing.
Emotional Intensity / Emotional Dysregulation --- that is related to among other things differences in information and sensory processing.

The "Weaknesses" and "Strengths" of NEURO-DIVERSITY are often ALL OF A PIECE and run through EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING.

Greater Understanding of Executive Functioning Differences has the potential to dramatically improve the ability of different minds to work together.

The great hope of Temple Grandin and many of us.

We Need to be STRENGTH-BASED when it comes to these EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES.

We are SOCIAL ANIMALS and if our EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING DIFFERENCES are being DEMONIZED --- that's a BIG PROBLEM.

On the other hand. our HIERARCHICAL, STATUS-SEEKING SOCIETY is leading us to give the Bill Clintons and Donald Trumps of the World a PASS.

This actually extends far beyond the Oval Office.

I'm not for CRUCIFYING either Clinton, Trump or other powerful or wealthy people who do have some BIG STRENGTHS, but have some BIG WEAKNESSES too --- and look pretty NEURO-DIVERSE.

BUT if you are paying attention -- it's hard to miss that some people are getting away with a lot more than others.

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