an attentional theory of autism: volume/equalizer analogy

[gusl]

This is a new theory of autism for me.


Matt Belmonte - Physiological Studies of Attention in Autism: Implications for Autistic Cognition and Behaviour

(quote of the abstract and emphases have been removed due to a complaint by the author)


Highlights:

slow attentional shifts -> fewer things are perceived (albeit more intensely) -> ritualized behavior

cinema analogy

The author , who has a CS background, is also interested in cultural aspects of the disorder, literature and narrative, and philosophy of science. He has also written a Hofstadterian book, reminescent of Goedel, Escher, Bach. He's an Assistant Prof. at Cornell's Department of Human Development.

Here is a sort of personal biography, and a sort of blog.

Comments

[bram.livejournal.com]

He's a friend of mine.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Really? Where did you meet such an interesting character?

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

These physiological results suggest that the autistic brain cannot filter incoming stimuli at early stages of perceptual processing, and instead must separate relevant from irrelevant stimuli by some later occurring, less efficient means.

Wow, this sounds exactly what I do mentally. Saying it that way, though, ties together a lot of problems I have into one package. I have a whole lot of trouble reading, and listening to people when they're talking (I get distracted by my own thoughts, and by other stuff going on), and noticing new things either in a room or in a conversation, that most people notice automatically. I've also always had trouble looking at stuff people point at... they'll say "look at the blue book over there" and point at it, and I'll scan across back and forth, trying to see it but missing it. Until usually they get impatient and say "c'mon, I'm pointing right at it!"... sometimes I just pretend that I see what they're talking about, to avoid them getting frustrated with me or so they don't think I'm joking around or "playing dumb". Although occasionally, this has led me to have to admit later that I really didn't see it and say "so can you point at it again? I still don't see it."

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I've also always had trouble looking at stuff people point at... they'll say "look at the blue book over there" and point at it, and I'll scan across back and forth, trying to see it but missing it. Until usually they get impatient and say "c'mon, I'm pointing right at it!"...

That happens to me all the time!

I always assumed it was a language problem (since I often have trouble interpreting directions), but in situations like these, it makes sense that the deficit is at the perceptual level.

Another theory to explain this phenomenon is perseveration: I simply can't let go of the initial, salient hypothesis, like "I know it's not here, but it CAN'T not be here!", and keep looking in the same place.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I also tend to miss new things in rooms. It took a month before I noticed that my housemate had put a new table in our living room. Both housemates found this unbelievable.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Btw, I've made a wiki page about my autistic traits. I'd be interested to see your own.

notice of copyright infringement

[(Anonymous)]

Mr Lacerda:

I see that the text at the top of your page "http://gustavolacerda.livejournal.com/477640.html" is the complete and entire text of the abstract on my page "http://www.mattababy.org/~belmonte/Talks/2002_Los_Angeles/" - except with "Copyright (c) 2002 by Matthew Belmonte" conveniently - and, I must infer, intentionally - omitted.

Had you had the decency to ask my permission for the duplication of this copyrighted text on your web site, I would have granted it. Because you did not grant me that respect as a content creator, though, I will not grant you any liberties as a content provider. If the copyrighted text is not removed by midnight and the end of today, Friday 13 April 2007, I will file at "http://www.livejournal.com/abuse/report.bml" a notification of infringement under 17 USC 512 and your page will be disabled.

Matthew Belmonte

Re: notice of copyright infringement

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

Mr Belmonte:

I sincerely apologize. My violation was not intentional. I quoted you abstract as a convenient way to emphasize the parts I found most interesting, as I lack a method for annotating the text on your site.

Gustavo Lacerda

Re: notice of copyright infringement

[zarex.livejournal.com]

Someone needs to point out directly that you're a complete and utter asshole. Your attitude and behavior is reprehensible.

It's perfectly legal and appropriate to post a properly cited paper abstract, even in its entirety. This falls well within the allowance of "fair use" and you have zero legal or moral basis for complaint. If anything you should feel flattered that someone was interested at all in your paper.

If you had a problem with him posting it, you should have asked nicely instead of pulling pigheaded threats and whining to livejournal. That you instantly resorted to such outlandish behavior speaks volumes about your character.

If you are to have any hope in academia or even polite society, you're going to have to grow up.

Gustav does not owe you an apology. You owe him one.

[zarex.livejournal.com]

Based on his behavior here, he seems like an utter prick to me.

Re: notice of copyright infringement

[bondage-and-tea.livejournal.com]

Bizarre. Surely it's enough just to cite the source. You didn't claim to the originator of the work. I think a feeling of worry that someone is going to steel one's ideas should be incompatible with academia. Unfortunately perhaps this isn't the case, especially if people's job security depends upon their output :-(

Re: notice of copyright infringement

[bondage-and-tea.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, in your web page where you list all your autistic traits I noted a lack of explicit description of which of them bothered you. Also I'd be interested to know what tricks you've tried to eliminate traits you dislike.