CONGRESSO APPDA - Lisboa - Portugal 2003

APPDA - Lisboa
(Associação Portuguesa para as pertubações do desenvolvimento e autismo)

7º CONGRESSO INTERNACIONAL
 Autisme-Europe  Lisboa 2003

COMUNICAÇÕES ORAIS

IG SIMON BARON-COHEN
IS AUTISM AN EXTREME OF THE MALE BRAIN?

Simon Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge, Autism Research Centre
Autism affects males far more often than females. This is especially true
for the related condition of Asperger Syndrome (AS) where the sex ratio
may be at least 10:1 (male:female), if not a lot higher. Why might this be?
One possibility is that autism is an extreme form of the male brain. This
theory was first proposed by Hans Asperger, but our recent work puts it
to the test. First we define what we mean by the male and female brain.
This is discussed in terms of two processes, empathising and
systemising. We look at evidence for sex differences in these processes.
Then we look at whether autism involves deficits in empathising together
with talents in systemising. Some of the biological mechanisms
underlying this are also tested and discussed.
Reference
Baron-Cohen, S (2003) The Essential Difference: men, women, and the
extreme male brain. Penguin/Basic Books
IG ROS BLACKBURN
LOGICALLY ILLOGICAL – INFORMATION AND INSIGHT INTO
AUTISM
ROS BLACKBURN, Person with autism, UK
Ros Blackburn is an adult with Autism. At three months old she appeared
withdrawn, isolated and very much in a world of her own. At six months
she was diagnosed profoundly deaf, which later proved to be far from
correct. Finally at a year old she was diagnosed severely autistic but with
average intellectual ability. Now at 34, Ros tends to feel that while many
areas of her autistic condition have remained very severe, others, such
as her severe language delay, have disappeared almost completely.
In her talk entitled ‘Logically Illogical’; Ros describes many aspects of
living and working with autism and gives an invaluable insight into her
world of autism. She uses humour and gives graphic examples of her
experiences. She talks about her history from her early diagnosis to the
present time and discusses some of the practices that played an
invaluable part in her progression. Ros talks about the positive as well as
the negative side of living with autism: she describes the fun she has as
well as the ways in which her autism continues to restrict her life and the
sort of support she needs to have. Her talk also illustrates the problems
of having an uneven profile of strengths and weaknesses, where often
the strengths mask her very real difficulties and needs.
Finally, it is Ros’ wish that all those who attend her talks find them helpful
and informative but above all that the experience is entertaining and full
of fun.




IG SIMON BARON-COHEN
É O AUTISMO UM EXTREMO DO CÉREBRO MASCULINO?

Simon Baron-Cohen, University of Cambridge, Autism Research Centre
O autismo afecta mais vezes os homens do que as mulheres. Isto é
especialmente verdade em relação ao Sindroma de Asperger (AS) no
qual o ratio do sexo chega a ser pelo menos 10:1 (homem:mulher), se
não um pouco mais alto. Porque poderá ser assim? Uma possibilidade é
que o autismo pode ser uma forma extrema do cérebro masculino. Esta
teoria foi primeiro proposta por Hans Asperger mas o nosso recente
trabalho testa-a. Primeiro definimos o que entendemos por cérebro
masculino e feminino. Isto é discutido em termos de dois processos:
empatia e sistematização.
Procuramos evidência de diferenças sexuais nestes processos. A seguir
investigamos para ver se o autismo implica défices em empatia junto com
talentos em sistematização.
Alguns dos mecanismos biológicos subjacentes são também testados e
discutidos.
Referência
Baron-Cohen, S. (2003). The Essential Difference: men, women, and the
extreme male brain. Penguin/Basic Books.

Para ler mais comunicações acesse:
http://www.appda-lisboa.org.pt/congresso/files/Comun_Orais.pdf