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Ecstasy for Auties
2010-Feb-16, Tuesday 12:03 amI've mentioned now and again that I'd like to try the street drug named "Ecstasy".
I've mentioned monkeyspheres and the fact (in a thread I won't link here) that my monkeysphere is probably limited to a population of only 1 person. I don't have a boyfriend, so my attention for that one available spot is currently devoted to my pet cat instead. More publicly, I state unequivocally that "I am a loner."
I can be passionate and intense. It's been known to happen with real live people, even! (Would that it happen again! *laugh*) Normally, it happens over "Important Issues" of intellect such as new discoveries in science or new insights of interrelatedness. I spend most of my life emotionally reserved and observational but with occasional outbursts of intense involvement and absolute commitment/certainty. This duality is a significant part of my self-chosen name, "The Mellow Tigger". I have a very difficult time imagining myself "normal". Would I even be "me" if I hugged friends, smooched every potential lover, and caroused with everyone I met? Huggable, smiling, talkative, friendly... popular. Is there really a version of "me" that's popular?
When other people try Ecstasy, it makes them bliss out while liking everybody around them. When pushed to the same extremes, though, it makes autistic people.... well... "normal" (neurotypical standard). It's not just anecdotal stories, although there are plenty of those available. The science is beginning to confirm it too, looking specifically at Ecstasy's role in regulating oxytocin in the brain.
One recent study (with a population sample of only 13 adults, too small to be reliable) tried a nasal spray of oxytocin. The autistic subjects were better able to recognize people, pay attention to people's faces, and play a simple game of coordination with people (tossing a ball). In a previous study (also with a small population of only 16 teenagers) with nasal spray, they found that autistic kids were better able to read the emotion in other people's faces.
Some people are taking this news to suggest that autistic children be given the spray as a kind of temporary crutch. They suggest using it to provide kids with years to interact "normally" with other people. This medicated time would give their brains a chance to train in typical emotional/social development. Afterwards, with their neurons successfully wired for neurotypical behavior, the oxytocin could be removed. That's the idea, anyway.
I dunno that I could ever advocate for altering someone else's brain. I am, however, quite curious enough to experiment upon myself. :)
Not around strangers, I think. I'm sure that like country dancing and other intimate endeavors, I would want to have a boyfriend first before trying out these particular adventures. I know, I know... I always get it backwards. Maybe doing Ecstasy while country dancing would help me to find someone! *laugh* No. Honesty demands that anyone interested in me should do so knowing fully what "me" really entails.
If he can travel that far into my world first... maybe then I would try stepping out farther into his world? Knowing that there are "mechanical crutches" available to help with the difficult training, it does make the idea a new and interesting prospect.
I've mentioned monkeyspheres and the fact (in a thread I won't link here) that my monkeysphere is probably limited to a population of only 1 person. I don't have a boyfriend, so my attention for that one available spot is currently devoted to my pet cat instead. More publicly, I state unequivocally that "I am a loner."
I can be passionate and intense. It's been known to happen with real live people, even! (Would that it happen again! *laugh*) Normally, it happens over "Important Issues" of intellect such as new discoveries in science or new insights of interrelatedness. I spend most of my life emotionally reserved and observational but with occasional outbursts of intense involvement and absolute commitment/certainty. This duality is a significant part of my self-chosen name, "The Mellow Tigger". I have a very difficult time imagining myself "normal". Would I even be "me" if I hugged friends, smooched every potential lover, and caroused with everyone I met? Huggable, smiling, talkative, friendly... popular. Is there really a version of "me" that's popular?
When other people try Ecstasy, it makes them bliss out while liking everybody around them. When pushed to the same extremes, though, it makes autistic people.... well... "normal" (neurotypical standard). It's not just anecdotal stories, although there are plenty of those available. The science is beginning to confirm it too, looking specifically at Ecstasy's role in regulating oxytocin in the brain.
One recent study (with a population sample of only 13 adults, too small to be reliable) tried a nasal spray of oxytocin. The autistic subjects were better able to recognize people, pay attention to people's faces, and play a simple game of coordination with people (tossing a ball). In a previous study (also with a small population of only 16 teenagers) with nasal spray, they found that autistic kids were better able to read the emotion in other people's faces.Some people are taking this news to suggest that autistic children be given the spray as a kind of temporary crutch. They suggest using it to provide kids with years to interact "normally" with other people. This medicated time would give their brains a chance to train in typical emotional/social development. Afterwards, with their neurons successfully wired for neurotypical behavior, the oxytocin could be removed. That's the idea, anyway.
I dunno that I could ever advocate for altering someone else's brain. I am, however, quite curious enough to experiment upon myself. :)
Not around strangers, I think. I'm sure that like country dancing and other intimate endeavors, I would want to have a boyfriend first before trying out these particular adventures. I know, I know... I always get it backwards. Maybe doing Ecstasy while country dancing would help me to find someone! *laugh* No. Honesty demands that anyone interested in me should do so knowing fully what "me" really entails.
If he can travel that far into my world first... maybe then I would try stepping out farther into his world? Knowing that there are "mechanical crutches" available to help with the difficult training, it does make the idea a new and interesting prospect.