Neurodiversity

Question 1

What is neurodiverstity?

Answer 1

Variation in the human brain, atypical neurological phenotypes (outside Gaussian distribution)

Question 2

Neurotypical

Answer 2

A person whose brain and cognitive development falls within the typical range. Make up most of the human population

Question 3

Neurodivergent

Answer 3

A person whose brain and cog development falls outside the typical range. About 15-20% of the population express atypical neuronal and cognitive phenotypes.
–> sometimes called neurominorities

Question 4

4 possible classifications

Answer 4

• Developmental-Acquired
• Developmental-Clinical
• Acquired clinical neurologic
• Acquired clinical psychiatry

Question 5

developmental-acquired

Answer 5

• impacts specific contexts or environments
• no health implications but might need accomodations
  (dyslexia)

Question 6

developmental-clinicacl

Answer 6

• has consistent impact accross different environments
• may require help from others
• considered a health issue
  (ASD, ADHD)

Question 7

Acquired clinical neurologic

Answer 7

• neurological changes after birth related to functional changes due to injury/illness
• health issues
  (aphasia, amnesia)

Question 8

Acquired clinical psychiatry

Answer 8

• mental health conditions that may affect mood, perception and behaviour
• may be due to genetic components but mainly relies on environment
• may be transient or episodic
• considered health issues
  (depression, schizophrenia)

Question 9

How does inter-variability between abilities change in neurotyp/neurodiv?

Answer 9

Neurotypicals have low levels of inter-variability while neurodivs have high

Question 10

Where is diversity present in neurotypicals?

Answer 10

brain systems connected to higher level EFs ie phylogenetically late-developing

Question 11

Diversity of the atypical

Answer 11

• there is huge heterogeneity within neurominorities and neurodivs
• there is bigger standard deviation here than with neurotyps

Question 12

Should neurodivergence be thought of as a dichotomy?

Answer 12

naur, this is not representative
we should think of subgroups or spectrums

Question 13

Disease

Answer 13

A biomedical mechanistic cause of a disorder becomes known
→ Calls for cure, prevention

Question 14

Disorder

Answer 14

A functional abnormality with negative consequences present in the brain or others which is not context-dependent
→ Calls for intervention

Question 15

Disability

Answer 15

Challenges and below-av performance in specific observable or measurable functions. May be psychological, physical or cognitive
→ Calls for support and accommodation

Question 16

Difference

Answer 16

Difference = Simply atypical relative to the norm, no negative impact
→ Calls for acceptance, humanizing, flexibility, recognition and inclusion

Question 17

Are these categories strict?

Answer 17

Nope, they can be fluent depending on medical, social, and personal contexts

–> in particular social is very impactful

Question 18

Is neurodiversity a bug or a feature?

Answer 18

• honestly the fact that its still existing in our gene pool points to it being a feature
• as these variations must’ve been evolutionarily helpful to our ancestors

Question 19

Evolutionary perspective of neurodiv

Answer 19

Diversity of our minds is key for our survival
–> Combinations of genes that lead to neurodivergence may impair the individual but carry benefits on the societal level → costs are borne by indv but benefits accrue to group “evolutionary altruism”

Question 20

Components of neurodivergency

Answer 20

Neurological and cognitive

Question 21

Do differences in brain regions predict cognitive abilities?

Answer 21

nope

Question 22

Hubs definition

Answer 22

highly connected brain regions, integrating and distributing neuronal information

Question 23

Children with strong hub-based networks…

Answer 23

had selective or no cognitive impairments

Question 24

Children with weak hub structures….

Answer 24

had widespread and severe cognitive impairments

Question 25

Connectivity vs individual areas?

Answer 25

Connectivity matters more than individual areas

Question 26

How does neurodivergency fare in university?

Answer 26

not great, usually --> students with neurodiv experience - Difficulty accessing support of services - Fear of stigmatization - Disconnect between support and needs - High levels of stress and anxiety particularly bc they had to conform to neurotypical academic standards

Question 27

Multilevels of stigatization

Answer 27

- Structural - Social / Interpersonal - internalized

Question 28

Structural Stigma

Answer 28

poor and inadequate access or quality education and mental health services

Question 29

Interpersonal stigma

Answer 29

negative attitudes and beliefs about neurodiv

Question 30

selt-stigma

Answer 30

internalized stigma, absorbing the negative beliefs about the self, accepting stereotypes and feeling shame --> often leads to chronic stress which makes it worse

Question 31

How should we change learning?

Answer 31

- move away from one-size-fits-all approach

Question 32

3 concepts for universal designs of learning

Answer 32

1. provide multiple means of engagement 2. provide multiple means of representation 3. provide multiple means of action and expression

Question 33

Provide multiple means of engagement

Answer 33

Influence the emotional value and saliency of learning content - associated with limbic system and affective networks

Question 34

Provide multiple means of representation

Answer 34

Important for recognizing patterns of information --> related to recognition networks, occipital/parieta/temporal

Question 35

Provide multiple means of action and expression

Answer 35

For planning and generating patterns --> related to strategic networks