Is autism an extremeof the male brain?

Is autism an extremeof the male brain?

Simon Baron-CohenSimon Baron-Cohen

Autism Research CentreAutism Research Centre

Cambridge UniversityCambridge University

Triad of difficultiesTriad of difficulties

SocialSocial CommunicationCommunication Imagining Imagining others others

mindsminds

EmpathizingEmpathizing

Triad of strengthsTriad of strengths

Islets ofIslets of obsessionsobsessions repetitive repetitive

abilityability with systemswith systems behaviourbehaviour

SystemizingSystemizing

The autistic spectrum: two subgroupsThe autistic spectrum: two subgroups

Classic autismClassic autism Any point on the IQ scaleAny point on the IQ scale Involves language delayInvolves language delay

Asperger SyndromeAsperger Syndrome Individuals of normal IQ or aboveIndividuals of normal IQ or above No language delayNo language delay

Genetics of autismGenetics of autism

Twin studiesTwin studies

Sibling risk ratesSibling risk rates

The ‘broader phenotype’The ‘broader phenotype’

Autism: the sex ratio Autism: the sex ratio

Autism spectrum: 4:1 (male:female)Autism spectrum: 4:1 (male:female)

Asperger Syndrome: 9:1Asperger Syndrome: 9:1

Hans Asperger (1944)Hans Asperger (1944)

““The autistic personality is an extreme variant The autistic personality is an extreme variant of male intelligence…of male intelligence…

In the autistic individual the male pattern is In the autistic individual the male pattern is exaggerated to the extreme”exaggerated to the extreme”

Sex vs. GenderSex vs. Gender

Pre 1960’s: Pre 1960’s: ‘‘Gender’ referred to the inflection of nounsGender’ referred to the inflection of nouns

1972: 1972: John Money distinguished ‘sex’ from ‘gender’ John Money distinguished ‘sex’ from ‘gender’ The John/Joan case (David Reimer) (1965-2004)The John/Joan case (David Reimer) (1965-2004)

Today in the US: Today in the US: ‘‘gender’ has replaced ‘sex’, as if it is a synonymgender’ has replaced ‘sex’, as if it is a synonym

(At least) 6 ways to think about sex(At least) 6 ways to think about sex

Chromosomal sexChromosomal sex Gonadal sexGonadal sex Brain sex Brain sex Gender identityGender identity Gender behaviourGender behaviour Sexual orientationSexual orientation

Sex differences in the mind: the classical viewSex differences in the mind: the classical view

Spatial ability (right hemisphere)Spatial ability (right hemisphere) males > femalesmales > females

Language (left hemisphere)Language (left hemisphere) females > malesfemales > males

Mathematical abilityMathematical ability males > femalesmales > females

Boys > girls:Toy vehicles, constructional toys, and mechanical toys

Girls > boys:Dolls, enacting social and emotional themes

Males > females:

maths, computing, physics, engineering, tool-making

Females > males:

Primary school teaching, nursing, social work, counselling

Two psychological processesTwo psychological processes

Empathizing (E)Empathizing (E)

identify a person’s thoughts and feelingsidentify a person’s thoughts and feelings respond to these with an appropriate emotionrespond to these with an appropriate emotion

Systemizing (S)Systemizing (S)

analyse or build a system analyse or build a system mechanical, natural, abstract, collectiblemechanical, natural, abstract, collectible

Different profilesDifferent profiles

S > E : more common in males?S > E : more common in males?

E > S : more common in females?E > S : more common in females?

S >> E : more common in autism?S >> E : more common in autism?

EmpathizingEmpathizing

SystemizingSystemizing

The Empathy Quotient (EQ): examplesThe Empathy Quotient (EQ): examples

I really enjoy caring for peopleI really enjoy caring for people

People often tell me I went too far in People often tell me I went too far in driving my point home in a discussiondriving my point home in a discussion

The Empathy Quotient (max = 80)The Empathy Quotient (max = 80)

meanmean sdsd

FemalesFemales 47.247.2 10.210.2

MalesMales 41.841.8 11.211.2

ASAS 20.420.4 11.611.6

The Systemizing Quotient (SQ): examplesThe Systemizing Quotient (SQ): examples

When I listen to a piece of music, I always When I listen to a piece of music, I always notice the way it’s structurednotice the way it’s structured

If there was a problem with the electrical If there was a problem with the electrical wiring in my home, I’d be able to fix it wiring in my home, I’d be able to fix it myselfmyself

The Systemizing Quotient (SQ)(max = 80)The Systemizing Quotient (SQ)(max = 80)

meanmean sdsd

FemalesFemales 24.124.1 9.59.5

MalesMales 30.330.3 11.711.7

ASAS 35.935.9 15.215.2

+1

0

+3

+1-2-3

-1

-1

-2

-3

+2 +3

+2

Empathizing

Syste

mizin

g

Extreme S

Type B

Type E

Type S

Extreme E

Look at individuals, not their sex

Scatter plot of EQ and SQ scores

Type EType E

(E > S)(E > S)

Type BType B

(E = S)(E = S)

Type SType S

(S > E)(S > E)

Extreme SExtreme S

(S >> E)(S >> E)

MenMen 1717 2323 5454 66

WomenWomen 4444 3636 1717 00

ASAS 11 77 2727 6565

Percentage showing each brain type

sarcastic stern

suspicious dispirited

preoccupied

insisting imploring

grateful

Eyes Test (max = 25)Eyes Test (max = 25)

xx sdsd

FemalesFemales 22.122.1 2.0 2.0

MalesMales 19.519.5 2.62.6

ASAS 16.616.6 2.92.9

FathersFathers 17.317.3 1.61.6

MothersMothers 18.918.9 2.12.1

females > males

males > females

fMRI whilst empathizing

Finding the target (speed)Finding the target (speed)

meanmean sdsd

FemalesFemales 66.766.7 36.736.7

MalesMales 46.2 46.2 20.520.5

ASAS 32.232.2 27.027.0

FathersFathers 32.832.8 17.717.7

MothersMothers 48.648.6 31.831.8

Sex differences whilst systemizing

Eye contact at 12-18 months oldEye contact at 12-18 months old

mean mean sdsd

Girls Girls 22.022.0 12.112.1

Boys Boys 16.116.1 10.010.0

AutismAutism 5.35.3 2.22.2

Testing for sex differences in newborns

Testing for sex differences in newborns

% of babies showing a looking preference% of babies showing a looking preference

FaceFace MobileMobile EqualEqual

Girls Girls 3636 1717 4747

BoysBoys 2525 4343 32 32

Biological mechanismsBiological mechanisms

Foetal testosteroneFoetal testosterone Animal researchAnimal research Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)(CAH)

GeneticsGeneticsTurner’s Syndrome (XO)Turner’s Syndrome (XO)

Amniocentesis: testing Geschwind’s theoryAmniocentesis: testing Geschwind’s theory

Foetal testosteroneFoetal testosterone

influences influences

lateralizationlateralization

Foetal testosterone predictsFoetal testosterone predicts

eye contact (12 m)eye contact (12 m)

language (18 m)language (18 m)

social relationships (48 m)social relationships (48 m)

Narrow interests (48 m)Narrow interests (48 m)

Assortative mating of two systemizers? Assortative mating of two systemizers? Both parents faster on the Embedded Both parents faster on the Embedded

Figures TestFigures Test

Both parents have a higher AQBoth parents have a higher AQ

Both parents have higher rate of Both parents have higher rate of engineering among their fathersengineering among their fathers

The ‘autistic spectrum’: brain type S?

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)

The ‘autistic spectrum’: brain type S?

Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ)

xx s.d.s.d.

ASAS 35.835.8 6.56.5

MathematiciansMathematicians 21.521.5 6.46.4

Males Males 17.817.8 6.86.8

FemalesFemales 15.415.4 5.75.7

“The curious incident of the dog in the night”“The curious incident of the dog in the night”

rate of autismrate of autism

Maths studentsMaths students 1.8%1.8%

General populationGeneral population 0.5%0.5%

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0

+3

+1-2-3

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+2

Empathizing

Syste

mizin

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Extreme S

Type B

Type E

Type S

Extreme E

Summary

Some of our teamSome of our team

GeneticsGenetics Lindsey KentLindsey KentPsychological tests Psychological tests Sally Wheelwright, Ofer GolanSally Wheelwright, Ofer GolanFoetal testosteroneFoetal testosterone Rebecca Knickmeyer Rebecca Knickmeyer

Svetlana LutchmayaSvetlana LutchmayaNew born babiesNew born babies Jennifer ConnellanJennifer Connellan

Anna BaktiAnna BaktiNeuroimagingNeuroimaging Ed Bullmore, Chris AshwinEd Bullmore, Chris Ashwin

Howard RingHoward Ring

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