Ryan Sumner

From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism

Science EN ↓ 131 episodes

I’m Ryan, and I have Autism. From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism is a podcast about Autism. I am on a mission to explain Autism. Autism emerges in human evolution as a biological adaptation, possibly through neuroplasticity, responding to environmental shifts that harness light’s energy for life. Maybe people fail to understand how living organisms use the energy from light to drive biochemistry and organize our biology. For each episode, we discuss various aspects of Autism. A large part of this process is what I call the Autism DOJO — the intense deep dives, mental battles, co...

Author

Ryan Sumner

Episodes

What is Autism: Part 2 of Criteria A- Can you fit in, or Not? Are you like the so-called "normal" people, or Not? 01.05.2024 27:35

Don't try to change an Autistic Person because they are "different" than you. In this episode, we explore more examples of Criteria A- Deficits in Social Communication and Interaction. Yay, more DSM-5-TR. Can you fit in, or not? Are you like the so-called "normal" people, or not? This episode is highlighted by personal experiences and examples. Plus, I have three jokes. The examples and episode is...

Part 2: Excitation / Inhibition Imbalance with Autism and Metabolic "Bank" Account and Demands, and Background Biology 22.04.2024 25:24

In Part 2 of the Excitation and Inhibition phenomena, we discuss Metabolic "bank" account and demands of navigating the social world. We discuss if we have enough resources or if we will run a metabolic deficits (think burnout and avoidance, and social isolation). We cover NMDA and AMPA and different Autistic Phenotypes. In addition, we review Neuromodulators, which are vast in our biology and det...

Part 1: Excitation / Inhibition Imbalance with Autism and Development, Melanin, Melanopsin, and BDNF 13.04.2024 30:44

In this episode, we discuss the Excitation and Inhibition Phenomena in Autism. There are many biological aspects implicating the E/I balance, and the Nervous System needs a healthy balance. This episode extends slightly downstream of the Genetic and Protein implications previously discussed. We discuss cortical and subcortical areas, sensations, introduce Glutamate and GABA, and discuss the critic...

Common Genetic and Proteins Associated with Autism, and I play Tug-of-War with Barbed-Wire 05.04.2024 31:39

In this episode, we discuss common genetic and proteins implicated with Autism. This episode is all about preparing for a future episode about Excitation and Inhibition imbalance- a known phenomena with Autism. I play Tug-of-War with Barbed-Wire and talk about a critical factor of our environment implicating proteins and development- This is huge, and necessary. Genomic Architecture of Autism http...

What is Autism: Deficits in Social Communication and Interaction 01.04.2024 32:49

In today's episode, we discuss Criteria A in the DSM-5-TR, which involves social communication and interaction. We discuss various aspects of the social world including unpredictableness, sensory processing being overwhelmed from the rapid firehose of information, being a student in a classroom, empathy, and are Autistic's being changed instead of cultivated into their own unique gifts (or Superpo...

What is Autism: Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors 22.03.2024 38:47

In this episode, we discuss criteria B from the DSM-5-TR. Criteria B are known as Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors. In addition, we discuss how criteria B implicates criteria A, or the social communication and interaction aspects of Autism. Projections https://www.amazon.com/Projections-Story-Human-Emotions/dp/B08LDWC2L6/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1GPPI5ZOFM2OS&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.nkY0ZQ0_m001QwcD7GiPwEw...