Nature Book review: Autistic genius?

liver411

ALLAN SNYDER

Allan Snyder is director of the Centre for the Mind, a joint venture of the Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, and the University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia.

Autism and Creativity: Is There a Link between Autism in Men and Exceptional Ability?
by Michael Fitzgerald
Brunner-Routledge: 2003. 304 pp. 29.99, $47.95

Autism: Mind and Brain
edited by Uta Frith and Elisabeth Hill
Oxford University Press: 2003. 298 pp. 70, $110 (hbk); 29.95, $49.50 (pbk)

We tend to see only the whole — it takes insights from abnormal minds to appreciate how the brain assembles the parts. So could studies of autism reveal insights into creativity? It seems unlikely. The classical portrait of autism includes low intelligence, significant learning disabilities, memory by rote, literalness and a rigid insistence on sameness. Even autistic savants, known for their extraordinary mental feats, are not creative. Rather, they adopt a form of mimicry, probably due to privileged access to non-conscious processes. Beate Hermelin, an expert on autism, says that no savant will discover a new mathematical theorem, initiate a novel stylistic movement, or render a revealing interpretation of a Beethoven piano sonata.

But as these two superb new books demonstrate, our view of autism is radically transforming. It now embraces the classical picture of severe mental impairment at one end of the spectrum and possibly Nobel-prizewinning creative genius at the other. Both extremes have in common certain core autistic features, such as preoccupation with detail, obsessional interests and difficulties in understanding another person's perspective.

Michael Fitzgerald, author of Autism and Creativity, says that some aspects of high-functioning autism and Asperger's syndrome enhance creativity. Because these developmental disorders are mainly genetic in origin and largely affect men, he believes that creativity in a broader sense is predominantly the result of genetic rather than environmental factors: "The view that geniuses began their lives made from the same material as the rest of us ... is false." He then engages in retrospective diagnosis to support such claims, declaring that several individuals "with creativity of genius proportions" fit the high end of the autistic spectrum. These include Isaac Newton, the philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein, mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan, Lewis Carroll, the poet W. B. Yeats, and politicians Keith Joseph and Eamon de Valera. Apparently Hitler too had autistic traits.

Fitzgerald's thesis is not new. Hans Asperger spoke of "autistic intelligence" as being intelligence of "true creativity", adding "it seems that for success in science or art a dash of autism is essential." Oliver Sacks suggested that Wittgenstein had autistic traits. So too did Einstein, van Gogh and possibly Bill Gates, according to Temple Grandin, who is herself autistic. Asperger even noted that the autistic mind is an extreme variant of male intelligence. Despite these earlier revelations, Fitzgerald's tantalizing book is a must read, as are Simon Baron-Cohen's brilliant contributions to this area, such as The Essential Difference (Perseus, 2003).

The fact that genius can fall within the autistic spectrum challenges our deepest notions of creativity. Are there two different routes to creativity: normal and autistic? The normal mind is good at recognizing the gist of something but poor at recalling details. This, I believe, is because the brain forms concepts or mental models that encapsulate the familiar. Concepts impart automatic judgements and confer intuition, but hide details from conscious awareness. As a result, we see the whole but not the parts. In contrast, the autistic mind is literal and sees more of the parts than the whole. An impairment in the process of concept formation denies intuition, but allows access to details that are normally non-conscious. Consequently, the autistic mind must build logically from the parts to what is intuitive to a normal mind.

The autistic mind seems to be suited to working algorithmically within a closed system of specified rules. In contrast, the normal mind can make unexpected connections between seemingly disparate systems — often by breaking the rules of each when taken in isolation, but not as an ensemble. In other words, a normal mind invents entire new systems rather than finding novelty within a previously prescribed space. Is it possible to have the best of both worlds? Could certain psychopathologies inadvertently plunge someone into a temporary state of autism, allowing them to see the parts normally denied to conscious awareness?

To gain deeper perspective on such issues requires information from diverse research. The second book under review, edited by Uta Frith and Elisabeth Hill, gives a valuable update in 13 insightful chapters, written by authorities on the subject. I especially enjoyed the editors' two chapters and those by the groups of Baron-Cohen, Happé and Schultz. Although tilted to the specialist, this excellent book portrays a panoramic view of autism. It is loaded with all kinds of goodies: autism is no longer a rare disease; it can be associated with congenital blindness; people with autism have difficulty recognizing faces; they show a strong desire to systematize; and on average their brains are larger and heavier than normal brains from around the age of 2–4 years (but probably not as adults). Movement disturbances may play a role in autism — a reduction in facial expressions may reflect problems with the underlying social brain network.

We are told that there is still no unifying theory of autism. But I suggest that a failure in the process of concept formation and its associated top-down inhibition of the parts that make up the whole may offer a mechanism that could unite the current descriptive theories. Concepts order the world internally. Without them, order must be imposed externally, hence the setting up of rigid routines.

>>>>>>>>>>>>

Well, you know anyone who is Autistic?

taro

No one seems to care about autistism, ha

[em03]

liver411

People may not know much about autistic genius. Actually they do know or have watched movies about the autistics. Do you remember Dustin Hoffman's Oscar winning performance in "Rain man" as the autistic genius who was good with numbers? The movie Rain Man exposed millions of people to autism as well as the autistic savant phenomenon. (Unfortunately, some people now have the impression that all autistic individuals have these abilities.) In the movie, Raymond displayed a great memory for ball player statistics, memorized parts of the telephone book, and counted cards in Las Vegas. One wonders why last year's national autism conference is being held in Las Vegas!

Another movie “Mercury Rising” is the same. "Mercury Rising" isn't quite that high minded like Rain Man, telling the story of an autistic 9-year-old genius with puzzles, who deciphers a top secret computer code... It's a good thing that Bruce Willis playing an F.B.I. agent on the verge of a nervous breakdown, is too much of a maverick to go around murdering children.

beat_it

why I can not see these people with autism in china? even in media

liver411

Because they never recognized those people and children until 1982; they always treated those people as retarded and probably still do.

According to an article I read in the past, it reveled:

http://www.womenofchina.com.cn/WOC/ShowArticle2.asp?ID=1173&ArticlePage=1&BigClassID=8

For many Chinese people autism is still a mysterious condition. For many years people believed that these special children were simply “mentally retarded”. It was as late as 1982 that the first case of autism was discovered and diagnosed in China. According to a survey in the early 1990s carried out in Beijing, at least 3,000 children in the city were suffering from autism. Nationally, the incidence of autism among children is four per ten thousand. The figure is higher than that of blind children and close to the figure for deaf children. In other words, China has 400,000 autistic children all together.

Here is the full text article with Chinese introduction:

Challeging Autism
向儿童孤独症宣战

自有人类以来，就有患孤独症的孩子，而儿童孤独症对于中国人来说还是一个陌生的概念。从1982年发现并确诊第一例孤独症患者至今，中国已有将近40万患孤独症的儿童，但还没有一所专门的医院来诊治他们。从德国留学归来的田惠平带着自己患孤独症的儿子在北京创办了“星星雨儿童孤独症康复中心”，她的事迹使她荣获美国《读者文摘》杂志“当代英雄”奖。

For many Chinese people autism is still a mysterious condition. For many years people believed that these special children were simply “mentally retarded”. It was as late as 1982 that the first case of autism was discovered and diagnosed in China. According to a survey in the early 1990s carried out in Beijing, at least 3,000 children in the city were suffering from autism. Nationally, the incidence of autism among children is four per ten thousand. The figure is higher than that of blind children and close to the figure for deaf children. In other words, China has 400,000 autistic children all together.

Autism among children is also referred to as “solicitude during the infancy period”. Most symptoms appear before the child is three years old. The child has no feeling for society and lacks the willingness and ability to interact with others. Each autistic child has his/her own world. They pay no attention to the outside world, have no demands, ask no questions, and even refuse eye contact or nurturing from their family members.

Autistic children act differently from mentally retarded children. Although they behave in a mechanical, ritualistic way, some of them show outstanding ability in some areas. For example, some can clearly remember the contents of a dictionary; some can memorize and calculate numbers like a calculator. However, often when being taught the meaning of a word or phrase, one’s relationship with the environment and interaction between people, these children get lost.

Autism has gradually become public knowledge internationally. The Oscar-winning film Rain Man described the progress of one talented autist getting to know his brother. International psychologists also once claimed that the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh had tendencies of autism.

There is still no special hospital to treat autistic children in China, not to mention any education offered to them.

Who can help these special children? For the first time, Tian Huiping—a woman from south China raised this important issue concerning these 400,000 overlooked children.Originally Tian was a teacher at the Chongqing Foreign Languages Institute.

In 1988, after returning from studying abroad in Germany, she suddenly discovered that her son suffered from autism. The cause of the disease was unclear and there was no hospital that could cure her son. She resigned from her work, raised funds, and finally took her son to Beijing where she established the “Stars and Rain Autistic Children’s Rehabilitation Center”. At the time when the Center was founded in 1994, a reporter from Women of China interviewed Tian. Seven years have now passed. Tian Huiping who was self-taught and has consulted with experts abroad, has already become an expert herself in the field of autism. Her exercises and imaginative treatment have achieved good results. Some patients who have undergone treatment in her center are now able to attend school.

In 1997, Tian Huiping was awarded the “Hero of the Present Era” prize by the American Reader’s Digest.


---- From Women of China English Monthly, January 2001
Time:2004-8-30

liver411

仅为宣传认知孤独症问题, 写成中英对照.

Once again, good question beat_it! I think at least you can understand my feeling.

再说一次, beat_it提出的是很好的问题. 我感觉起码你了解我的心情感受.

I know some scientists; searchers, professors and physicians of pediatric neurology in China have out-cried and desperately searched for help from Chinese government and international organizations as they discovered there were a lot of kids suffering from Autism in China. Thus, they haven’t got the much supports that should be from the authorities. It was a shame and pity.

我知道很多在中国的科学家, 研究人员, 教授, 和儿童神经科医生曾抗议并非常渴望能够得到中国政府和国际组织的支持帮助, 因为他们发现在中国很多儿童被孤独症折磨. 但他们并没有得到应得的支持. 这是悲哀, 耻辱的.

The reason why I posted this note was those people (children) are urgently needed the cooperation with people all over the world doing research of autism. The Chinese society and people need to understand the right of an “autistic” or even a “mentally retarded” person. They are far more serious than us - - -those of infected with HBV. They are in the darkest side of the society as people often refer them as retards, make fun on them or discriminate against them.

我发这个帖子的原因是因为这些孤独症的中国患者(儿童) 迫切需要全球研究孤独症人们的协助. 中国社会和老百姓需要了解, 患有孤独症或大脑发育不全 (傻子) 人们的权利. 他们在中国的情况比我们---乙肝患者更严重. 他们生活在社会的最黑暗面, 人们常常叫他们傻子, 取笑他们, 甚至歧视他们.

My hepatologist (liver doctor)’s wife also works as a doctor in the field of genetic, mental, retardation, autistic at the largest children hospital in the area. She asked me what the situation of the autistic children in China is; and if people are aware of this “disease”?

我肝脏医生的太太也是一名医生, 她是在这里一家最大的儿童医院专门研究遗传, 精神, 大脑发育不全, 孤独症的. 她曾问过我中国患有孤独症的儿童们的处境是怎样的. 人们是否知道这个”疾病”?

So far, at least in this forum, the mirror image of the Chinese society, the impression is that very a few people seem to understand the meaning of autism (I hope I was wrong). As you can tell, the autistic problem has a long way and difficult task to be accomplished in China.

到目前为止, 起码在这个论坛, 中国社会的镜像反照所在地, 我的感觉是不是很多人知道这个疾病. (我希望我的感觉是错误的). 由此可见, 孤独症的问题在中国将会有很长的路要走, 很大的工作要完成.

[此贴子已经被作者于2005-8-29 6:14:21编辑过]

liver411

PS: [br]

The foreign parents, mostly American parents who adopted Chinese children and later found out the children had autism created websites for this purpose. These list-servers are for families who have adopted children from China who are or have shown Autistic like symptoms. They are the places to brain storm, and support each other.

[此贴子已经被作者于2005-8-29 6:51:05编辑过]

liver411

FYI: 这个故事就是我上面提到的关于Autism的电影"雨人"(Rainman)主角之真实故事....

一个弱智者的超智能传奇(zt)

2004年10月，致力于尖端科技的美国宇航局太空生命生物信息中心，开始对53岁的金·皮克的大脑结构展开了一次全面而深入的研究。科学家们希望一探他拥有与众不同超常智力的原因。很难想象，金曾经是个被人耻笑的怪孩子，而现在他却成了美国孩子心中的偶像！或是美国家庭教育的典范。是什么力量成就了这一切？

一出人世便与众不同

1951年11月11日，一个有着大脑袋的男婴在医院呱呱坠地了。然而，他刚出生不久，就被诊断出患有一种名叫脑水肿的可怕疾病。而进一步的诊断表明，他的左右脑之间缺少一种叫脑桥的机制。前端也没有接合处，而且小脑先天有缺陷。而脑水肿部位也只有一层薄薄的头盖骨覆盖着。医生遗憾地告诉他的父母，在7000万个人中才有一人有这种情况。而在一般情况下，他将是个弱智，并且四肢将有严重残疾，连存活都很困难，更别说像正常人一样生活了。

这个消息对于金的父亲弗兰来说，无疑是一个晴天霹雳。哪个做父亲的不希望自己孩子是健康快乐的？在悲伤过后，弗兰并没有放弃儿子，相反，对于这个特殊的孩子，他决定花更多的精力去呵护他。他想，也许，这是上帝给他的一份特殊的礼物。

金从小就不像别的孩子那样爱哭爱笑，他行动起来也非常迟缓。当别的孩子都开始会走路的时候，金还只能在地上缓缓爬行，还时不时会撞到桌椅，他稚嫩的脑袋上常常被撞出个大包。弗兰把这一切都看在眼里，可他并没有去帮助儿子。弗兰知道现在的痛就是要让金学会坚强，因为以后的挫折会更多。他希望金能够战胜自己残疾的躯体，靠自己的力量克服困难。而小小的金似乎也异常的懂事，他有着同龄人所没有的乖巧。

在这样的环境中，金磕磕碰碰地走过了人生的第一个年头，存活已不再是生活中最大的难题了。当金16个月大的时候，有一天晚饭后，弗兰把看过的报纸随手放在了地上便走开了。当他回来时，却发现金正独自趴在摊开的报纸前津津有味地看着。弗兰起先还以为这只是巧合。可金却用他的小手点着报纸上的大标题，模模糊糊地念了起来。他还不时抬头朝爸爸开心地笑笑。弗兰虽然听不真切，可有一点能够肯定，金确实看懂了报纸上的文字。弗兰开心地抱起儿子。

从此，弗兰便开始注重培养儿子阅读的兴趣。他每天吃完饭第一件事就是抱着儿子，让他坐在自己膝头一同看报纸。弗兰还时不时将一些简短的文章读出声来，希望儿子能更好地理解。就这样，他们父子俩一同度过了无数个温馨快乐的傍晚。而弗兰也终于找到了做父亲的幸福。

就这样，儿子一天天地长大了，他的词汇量也与日俱增。金3岁的时候，有一天，他问爸爸弗兰“机密的”这个词是什么意思。弗兰半开玩笑地对他说，你自己到字典上去找找。于是，他便把那巨大的脑袋垂下，爬过桌子，真的开始翻阅起面前厚厚的字典。

弗兰在一边张大着嘴吃惊地看着儿子的一举一动，他惊奇地发现小小的金在从未受过任何训练的情况下，便能有条不紊地按照字母顺序寻找他要查的字，并且他清楚地记得字母的排列顺序。大约过了30秒，他回过头开心地对父亲说他找到了这个词。

弗兰开始渐渐意识到儿子的与众不同，或许他是个天才！弗兰激动地紧紧搂着这个小生命，他在心中一遍又一遍感谢上帝给了他这样一份可贵的礼物。然而，与此同时，弗兰也发现儿子才刚刚开始学会走路，而且由于先天小脑残缺，他的行走很不稳定，还常常抽搐……

被视为异类的童年

从此以后，弗兰更是不惜血本，从自己微薄的工资里挪出大部分的钱给金添置书籍。他还专门为金腾出了一个房间作为书房。为了买这些书，弗兰常常要兼做好几份工。每次回到家时，他都已经疲惫不堪了，可他还要按时给生活完全不能自理的儿子烧饭、洗衣，整理凌乱不堪的房间。 但弗兰从没有厌烦过。每次回家，只要看到金开心地坐在桌旁，心满意足地翻阅着厚厚的书并给他愉快地讲述时，弗兰便觉得他是世界上最特别、最幸福的父亲。

很多人在背地里嘲笑金是白痴残疾人，但是弗兰对这些传言毫不在意。他坚信，他的儿子是不同的，他有着常人所没有的智慧。

不过，现实还是残酷的，这种天才的表现并没能给幼小的金带来一帆风顺的生活。尽管弗兰百般地努力，但周围的人却始终不能友善地对待和接纳他的儿子。

金早在4岁半的时候，就熟记了大百科全书的前8卷，但没有一家学校愿意接收金提早入学。他们甚至把他视为怪物，对他抱以怀疑和否认的态度。

每次看到别的孩子开心地玩耍时，金就非常渴望能成为他们中的一员。可是他细弱的双腿却根本无法像别的孩子那样奔跑跳跃，他连走路都显得很困难。再加上金那奇怪的长相，一些调皮的孩子常拿起小石子扔他，还怪叫着跑开。

起先，金还以为只是好玩，始终没有把这些放在心上，可他走到哪儿，孩子们都躲着他。直到有一天，金在公园里遇到了一个梳着马尾辫的可爱小女孩，她穿着鲜艳的红裙，活像安徒生笔下美丽温柔的小公主。金不由得痴痴地看着她，并咧着嘴对她报以最开心的笑容。幸运的是，小女孩并不像其他孩子那样看到金就躲开，她还热情地招呼金和她一起荡秋千。小女孩还好心地帮金系好安全带。金几乎是欣喜若狂，这是有生以来第一次有人邀请他一起玩。

可当他正开心无比的时候，小姑娘的妈妈来了。她一看到金那副呆呆的样子便连忙把自己的孩子拉到了一边，大声地斥责起来。小女孩被妈妈的呵斥吓得哭了，因为她并不觉得金有什么不妥。可是，在现实面前，她太幼小了，以至于一点反抗的力气都没有......

从这一刻起，金似乎意识到自己并不受人欢迎，他甚至觉得自己有些丑陋可憎！金固执地认为：再没有人会和他一起玩了！第一次，金由于挫折和孤独而悲伤地落泪了……

然而，金不知道，这个世界上有一个人是始终站在他一边的，那就是父亲。此时弗兰一直坐在远处长凳上注视着这一切，对于小女孩的离去他也无能为力，他不能强迫别人的父母接纳金。可是，他必须支持自己的孩子。弗兰走到秋千旁，轻轻地推动起来。一下，一下，金越荡越高，他看到了广袤的天空，他知道在这世界上，父亲的温暖与蓝天同在。

由于一直缺乏与外界的交流，金变得越来越封闭，加上先天的原因，他患上了严重的自闭症。他整天沉浸在书的海洋里，如饥似渴般吞食着他能看到的一切书籍。每本书他只需要读上一遍，就可以完整地记下来，谁也别想说服他看第二遍。金总会说，每个字我都记下来了，要回味的话直接去脑子里找好了。

此后，弗兰更惊奇地发现，金有着非同寻常的阅读速度。常人看完一页时，金往往已经看完两页纸了。原来他可以同时看两张纸上的内容，左眼看左边的那页，右眼看右边的那页，看完后思绪丝毫不受影响。

仅仅13岁的金便已记住了上百部剧作，而他的大脑就如同电脑般有着存储功能。弗兰越来越深刻地意识到儿子的巨大潜能。因此，他不惜资本带着儿子去各地听音乐会、看戏剧，不断地挖掘金的潜能。金就是在那时快速地记住了大量戏剧的剧本或音乐乐谱。他会毫不犹豫地指出演奏者或演员的错误。

一次，他们去看《第十二夜》，台上的演员非常流利地说着台词，可一幕还没结束，金便霍地站了起来，对着台上说：“你们别演了，停下来，停下来。”因为男演员漏掉了一幕中的倒数第二节。这名演员只好向大家道歉，还一边嘟囔着说：“这些句子这么相像，我觉得念错不是什么问题。”“但威廉·莎士比亚会介意。”金一丝不苟地说，“所以你也应该当回事。”演员的脸不由刷地一下红了。而台下的观众无不啧啧称赞这名年轻人较真的性情及渊博的学识，并热烈地鼓起掌来。

用自信赢得理解

金渐渐地步入了青年，尽管他仍然受到一些人的歧视，但在父亲和一些好心人的不断鼓励下，他逐渐树立起了信心。他开始明白自己并不比别人低一等。他发现了自己独特的光芒，一种残缺与超常的完美结合。 曾有一次，金在父亲的说服下终于鼓起勇气，兴致勃勃地去参加一个学生活动。这是金第一次看到会场上那热闹的场面，听到人们的欢声笑语。金心中尘封已久的温情不由得荡开了，他开心地舞动四肢，跟着周围的孩子欢呼起来。

但是，尽管金努力想融入周围的世界，他那颤抖的四肢还是很快引起了其他孩子的注意。他们开始交头接耳起来。最后，一个孩子猛地站了起来，带着点嘲笑地大声问他：“你这么不停地抽筋，感觉怎么样啊？很好玩吗？”金受了不小的打击，他渐渐垂下了挥舞着的手，伤感地低下了头，一阵阵伤感涌上他的心头，往日受其他孩子捉弄的情景再次涌入他的脑海。

就在他黯然神伤的时候，他看到了坐在一旁的父亲。父亲的脸色非常地严肃，眼里透着无限的坚定，仿佛在向金重复往日的话：你有着和别人不一样的光芒！看到这眼神，金勇敢地抬起了头，虽然身体还因激动而颤抖着，但他的眼睛里却充满了自信！他正视着那个孩子道：“残疾不是我可以选择的，但每个人都是独特的，都有着许多别人看不到的闪光点。虽然我的肢体并不听话，可我也懂得尊重别人！”听了金的话，那个孩子低下了头。旁边另一个手残的男孩眼中闪动着晶莹的泪花，听了金的话，他非常激动，开心地和金站在了一起。

从此，金更有自信了。他意识到：他不是孤独的，他的身边也有很多和他一样特别的人，他们也都需要生活的勇气。因此他在父亲的帮助下开始接触更多需要鼓励的人。

可能是受到父亲善良淳朴性格的影响，金也有着一颗异常热情、善良的心。他时时刻刻地为他人着想，并随时准备帮助别人。在父亲的帮助下，他们在美国各地游走，为那些残疾人做演说，鼓励大家靠自己的力量，做一个自信、自立、自强的人。

就这样，金的故事渐渐在美国传播开来。著名导演莫若一下子发现了他的特质，很快便将金的故事搬上了银幕，这就是奥斯卡获奖影片《雨人》，通过达斯汀·霍夫曼逼真的演绎，金很快便成了家喻户晓的人物。更可喜的是，由于电影对他生活的成功写照，整个社会开始慢慢接受他。人们不再把他当成一个可怕的怪物。

人们带着善意的好奇开始和他交流。从那以后，金渐渐接触到了普通人的生活。金越来越大胆，不仅能和人面对面交流，而且还能面对着一大群观众独自演说。

美国的父母们也很乐于把金作为榜样，让孩子们在遇到挫折时能树立自己的信心。金也成为那些“与众不同”的人继续生活下去的动力。

许多电视节目开始采访金，这其中包括一些知名电台，如《20/20》，《早安美国》等等。金和他的父亲始终孜孜不倦地在美国旅行，甚至来到了加拿大。他带着他的使命，他向各地人民传播着他独特的思维和生活态度。每个人只要和他说上5分钟，就能被他的个人魅力所感染。每个人都会惊异于人类潜能的伟大！

就像金自己所说的：“如果没有父亲的鼓励和教育，就不可能有我的今天。我们每个人都应该承认并尊重别人的‘不同之处’，并设身处地为别人着想。只有这样，我们的世界才能成为属于大家的天堂。要尽力做到最好，不要因为残疾而自卑。因为，没有一个人是相同的！”

[此贴子已经被作者于2005-8-29 8:00:57编辑过]

liver411

I remeber someone had this in English:

人之初
行本善
性相近
习相远
师不教
生之过
生不学
师太堕

beat_it

Chinese really dont know this desease much. Thank you for enlightening me.