r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Feb 08 '25

Neuroscience Specific neurons that secrete oxytocin in the brain are disrupted in a mouse model of autism, neuroscientists have found. Stimulating these neurons restored social behaviors in these mice. These findings could help to develop new ways to treat autism.

https://www.riken.jp/en/news_pubs/research_news/rr/20250207_1/index.html
6.0k Upvotes

96% Upvoted

367 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

15

u/CanGuilty380 Feb 09 '25

My autistic brother was 22 years old before he could go the store alone. Autism is absolutely something that many people would like treated.

-6

u/kelcamer Feb 09 '25

Are you aware there are different autism levels?

Are you also aware that there are different symptoms in different people?

I'm not saying no one would want help.
What I am suggesting is that autism is a lot more complicated than all the existing research we currently even know, and there could be different subtypes that are unexplored at this point.

11

u/CanGuilty380 Feb 09 '25

Yes I am. What is even the point of this question?

-1

u/kelcamer Feb 09 '25

It’s great that you’re aware of the diversity within autism, and I appreciate you sharing your perspective. What I’m trying to highlight is that our current understanding of autism—especially in research—might not fully capture what autism actually is for those who experience it.

The ‘double empathy problem,’ proposed by Dr. Damian Milton, suggests that many difficulties attributed to autistic people may actually stem from a mismatch in understanding between autistic and non-autistic individuals, rather than an inherent deficit in autistic people.

Current research often frames autism through a deficit-based lens, assuming that divergence from the neurotypical standard is a problem to be fixed. This perspective misses how autistic experiences are fundamentally different, not deficient. By focusing on ‘correcting’ these differences, we risk misunderstanding and pathologizing natural variations in human experience.

Autism might be broader and more complex than current research or clinical definitions capture. The double empathy problem highlights that non-autistic people also struggle to understand autistic people, but their struggles aren’t pathologized. If we shift the focus to mutual understanding and acceptance, we may uncover aspects of autism that go beyond current assumptions, helping everyone—including those who seek support—in a more accurate and inclusive way.

1

u/CanGuilty380 Feb 09 '25

I really want to write a constructive respnse to you and have a proper discussion about this, but the claim that autism isn’t a deficiency and just makes them different, just makes me mad. It minimizes so many autistic peoples experience. So I’m jist gonna go to bed.

3

u/kelcamer Feb 09 '25

Well, considering you've already infantalized me in your other comment, that sort of thing really shuts me down.

If you're able to have a productive conversation without resorting to ad hominem, I would genuinely love to hear it.

I ask you to consider that everyone's experience of autism is different, what one person needs is different from what another person needs, and above all:

Autistic people should not be forced to change who they are in order to appease a social majority who believes indirect communication is superior.

1

u/TheLastBallad Feb 09 '25

And the inability to recognize that a highly variable difference can be a difficency in some and not in others pisses me off because that also minimizes so many autistic peoples experiences, including mine.

But do continue to speak for others.

1

u/kelcamer Feb 09 '25

Deficiency and disability aren't the same thing, though.

Yes, autism is a disability.

No, it doesn't make us deficient humans.

1

u/d1rron Feb 10 '25

"Deficient" has more than one definition. Are you sure you're interpreting the correct one in this context?