PATTERN SEEKING: Autism, evolution and us.

In his book 'The Pattern Seekers' Sir Simon proposes that what has made us successful as a species is our ability to see patterns, 'systemise' and create 'if, then, and' sequences that have enabled us to invent and experiment also and how this ability relates to autism. Our conversation travels from a 40 thousand year old tuned bone flute to creating 'neuro-affirmative' environments in schools and work. Along the way we discuss why Eindhoven has double the rates of childhood autism than other equivalent Dutch cities, what was gleaned from 20 thousand Danish samples of amniotic fluid, why autistic people are the opposite of sociopaths, why some parents of autistic kids dislike the term 'neurodiversity' and much more. A great conversation and the last of a quartet on the autism themes this season (see the links below).

Participants

Sir Simon Baron Cohen is professor of developmental psychopathology, and the director of the Autism Research Centre, University of Cambridge https://www.autismresearchcentre.com/people/simon-baron-cohen/

Ken Barrett is an artist, writer and former neuropsychiatrist http://www.kenbarrettstudio.co.uk/

Simon's book 'The Pattern Seekers': https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/289738/the-pattern-seekers-by-baron-cohen-simon/9780141982397

The other autism themed conversations this season:

Dame Uta Frith: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/hans-asperger-and-the-autistic-spectrum-reflecting-on-past-p

Alice Jolly (whose terrific novel 'The Matchbox Girl' has since won the Walter Scott prize for historical fiction): https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/recreating-hans-aspergers-world-the-matchbox-irl

Rajesh Kana on the autistic brain: https://shows.acast.com/brainland/episodes/exploring-the-autistic-brain

Musical extract: Prelude from Act 1 of Brainland, composed by Stephen Brown.

Brainland the opera website: www.brainlandtheopera.co.uk

Instagram: #brainlandcollective

Sketch by KB

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