Monthly summary of general news, case histories,
and introductory articles about neurofeedback
for the interested layperson
Vol. 6 No. 9 - September 2003
Past issues are available at start.eegspectrum.com/News/
Copyright (C) 2001 by EEG Spectrum International. All rights reserved.
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All links at: http://news.yahoo.com/fc?tmpl=fc&cid=34&in=science&cat=brain_research
Estrogenize that brain. Like a fanatic it is out on a limb and needs some moderation. Too male, it needs more female to pull it to the center.
I came upon this idea in the middle of the night a fews nights ago and left a note on the kitchen table for my wife that read: "JD's cure: We're going to turn him into a girl (somewhat)." So let's make like amphibians, changing our children's sex at will.
Some nudging towards the female mind is all I suggest. What could be the harm with that? And there are two broad estrogen-delivery schemes available to all of us: food and drink. So simple, why has it been overlooked? There is a dearth of literature on the role of sex hormones in autism. Only 11 papers on testosterone, 6 on estrogen - what am I missing? Or has everyone else missed the obvious? Estrogen seems like a promising therapy: it interacts positively with oxytocin, the social reward molecule, and high doses of estrogen inhibit dopamine production, the endogeneous neurotransmitter I always imagine in cocaine-like lines which is involved in both mental and physical hyperactivity of all forms. Not all autistic children are probably hyperactive, but mine attached to the proper equipment could power a dozen city blocks.
Increasing estrogen (its circulation or some metabolic efficiency) should increase the verbal aspect of an autistic mind, reducing his or her maladaptive and immense overreliance on visual and spatial coding -- and all things male. From what little I know about estrogen, it appears there are two forms, and one is bad (just like everything else on this planet, including cholestorol) so the eventually dosing may be tricky, but I expect good results. We'll see.
Even if it is wrong (broadly or narrowly), what would be the real concern of side effects in children? Increase the foods in his or her diet that contain estrogen and remove those that inhibit estrogen. The loss of berries will be the biggest obstacle in my household.
Foods Containing Natural Estrogens (from http://www.holistic-online.com, accuracy not verified) Alfalfa, Animal flesh, Anise seed, Apples, Baker's yeast, Barley, Beets, Carrots, Cherries, Chickpeas, Clover, Cowpeas, Cucumbers, Dairy Foods, Dates, Eggs, Eggplant, Fennel, Flaxseeds, Garlic, Hops, Licorice, Oats, Olive oil, Olives, Papaya, Parsley, Peas, Peppers, Plums, Pomegranates, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Red beans, Red clover, Rhubarb, Rice, Sage, Sesame seeds, Soybean sprouts, Soybeans , Split peas, Sunflower seeds, Tomatoes, Wheat, Yams,
Estrogen Inhibiting Foods: Berries, Broccoli, Buckwheat, Cabbage, Citrus Foods, Corn, Figs Fruits (except apples, cherries, dates, pomegranates), Grapes, Green beans, Melons, Millet, Onions, Pears, Pineapples, Squashes, Tapioca, White rice, White flour,
Now this dietary approach is probably a modest measure until a tailored delivery system for each child can be developed. Estrogen patches, with the appropriate doses, will probably be the eventual way to go.
So in short, autism is an endocrine disorder with neurological consequences, not a neurological condition. So make an autistic boy a girl (or autistic/Asperger girl even more feminine). If they start to throw like a girl, maybe you've gone too far :-)
(Wish us luck.)
-DK
News & Reviews
NEW BOOKS
Playing, Laughing and Learning with Children on the Autism Spectrum
by Julia Moor
Sleep and Epilepsy: the Clinical Spectrum
Comparative Treatments of Anxiety Disorders
Magnetic Stimulation of the Human Nervous System
The Selfish Brain: Learning from Addiction
Souls: Beneath & beyond Autism
Antiepileptic Drugs
Neurological Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience
Neurological Foundations of Cognitive Neuroscience
The Analysis of Controlled Substances
From Goals to Data and Back Again:...Developmental Intervention for Children With Autism
Growing Up With Epilepsy: A Practical Guide for Parents
Integrated Treatment for Dual Disorders: A Guide to Effective Practice
Primer of EEG With a Mini-Atlas
Mother-child interaction in autistic and nonautistic children
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Mothers use more physical contact, more high-intensity behaviors, and fewer social verbal approaches with autistic children, but the quantity of approaches does not differ.
Neuropsychological function in OCD
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OCD patients are impaired on delayed memory, response inhibition, impulsivity, and temporolimbic functions, but they are not impaired on executive function or verbal fluency.
How can brain activity and hypnosis inform each other?
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Argues for using hypnosis in the study of brain mechanisms of conscious experience.
Sporting activity and drug use
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Practicing sports as an elite student-athlete is correlated negatively with cigarette, alcohol and cannabis use, depending upon sport and level of competition.
Increased frequency of rolandic spikes in ADHD children.
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The frequency of rolandic spikes in children with ADHD is significantly higher than expected from epidemiologic studies. How ADHD symptoms are related to this features is unclear.
Depression and neurocognitive functioning in mild TBI
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Depression-related scales of both the MCMI-II and MMPI-2 are independent of cognitive performance, despite the prevalence of depression in mild injury.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation for the treatment of OCD
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No difference was seen between rTMS and sham TMS using the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale or the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale.
Neuropsychologic assessment of visual disorders.
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Although no clear subtyping by tests exists, the authors divide tests of visual dysfunction into visuoperceptual, visuospatial, visuoconstructive, and visual attention/memory.
Cocaine and amphetamine use in patients with psychiatric illness
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Animal studies indicate that neuroleptics increase cocaine and amphetamine self-administration. Patients discontinuing typical antipsychotics exhibited reduced drug craving compared with those continuing.
Daily methylphenidate use slows the growth of children
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Height differences between treated children and sibling controls after 2 y treatment across broad range of doses (10-80 mg per day) suggest grow-suppressive effects of methylphenidate is greater than suspected.
High-frequency electromagnetic fields on human EEG
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Cellular phones may reversibly influence the human brain, inducing abnormal slow waves in EEG.
Gender differences in major depression and response to antidepressants?
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Gender differences in psychopathology of major depression do not translate into differences in response to antidepressants.
High-frequency electromagnetic fields on human EEG
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Cellular phones may reversibly influence the human brain, inducing abnormal slow waves in EEG.
Sex differences in the genetic risk for alcoholism.
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Twin studies support genetic risk factors for alcoholism in men, and shared environmental factors in women.