Neuro-Developmental Continuums, Psychiatric Disorders, Trauma, Intelligence & Sensory Processing

​Understanding PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS as "DISORDERS of the NEURO-DEVELOPMENTAL CONTINUUM" has IMPLICATIONS.

One of the many things that has made this so DIFFICULT to tease out is even though PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS have been known to be for some time "HEAVILY GENETIC" ---- they weren't "TOTALLY GENETIC" ---

• The Twin Studies were sometimes seen as saying MENTAL ILLNESS wasn't "TOTALLY BIOLOGICAL"
  • I think what they were really saying was --- MENTAL ILLNESS isn't "TOTALLY GENETIC"

​Further, the National Institute of Mental Health came up with a construction of GENES x ENVIRONMENT x AGE = MENTAL ILLNESS.

This was AFTER researchers had IDENTIFIED TRAUMA as being associated with MENTAL ILLNESS but BEFORE we had IDENTIFIED  MATERNAL IMMUNE ACTIVATION as being associated with BOTH NEURO-DEVEPMENTAL DISORDERS and PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.

Dr. Dawn Elise Snipes
Continuing Education Units

Neurobiological Impact of Psychological Trauma on the HPA Axis

Initially, "Oh TRAUMA -- that's 'PSYCHOLOGICAL'--- that's NOT 'BIOLOGICAL.' "

• Now --- we're more likely to recognize that TRAUMA is BOTH --- "PSYCHOLOGICAL" and "BIOLOGICAL."
• Most surprising it is involving the IMMUNE SYSTEM --- NOT JUST THE BRAIN.  (and OTHER SYSTEMS OF THE BODY)

Automatic Brain: The Magic of the Unconscious Mind (2011)

"Over 90 percent of our daily actions are done unconsciously, an "autopilot" in our head. Automatic

"Brain takes a look at how unconscious processes steer the lives of two ordinary people, from everyday routines to life choices such as finding a partner. Featured by XIVETV."

Repurposed Genealogy

The Gifted Brain & Sensory Processing Disorder

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Further, we've had SIMPLISTIC NOTIONS of INTELLIGENCE --- that have not held up in my life and I don't think I'm the only one.

So I would submit that INTELLIGENCE is not just "GENETICS" or for that matter "ENVIRONMENT" --- it is in fact closely related to INFLAMMATION that can lead to a perception of BELOW AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE or ABOVE AVERAGE INTELLIGENCE.

The Epidemic of "Misdiagnosis" of Mental Health Problems in the "Gifted" Community

High IQ & Psycho-Neuro-Immunology

​PG Psych Lecture Series
D Y Patil University School of Medicine

Understanding Psychiatric Illnesses as Disorders of the Neurodevelopmental Continuum (2021)

​This video is from India --- it's almost 1 hr. and 45 minutes long.

The point is really that this is more reflecting the NEW PARADIGMS regarding PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS and their relationship to NEURO-DEVELOPMENT.

National Institute of Mental Health (2018)

Big Brain:  Perks & Costs

"It turns out that the bigger our brain is, the more its additional real estate is accounted for by growth in the higher thinking areas of the cortex, or outer mantle – at the expense of relatively slower growth in lower emotional, sensory and motor areas.

"This mirrors the pattern of brain changes seen in primate evolution and individual maturation – with higher-order areas showing greatest expansion.

"In the neuroimaging study of more than 3000 people, the investigators also found evidence linking these high-expanding regions to higher connectivity between neurons and higher energy consumption."

HERE'S THE CATCH-22

• Our INTELLIGENCE is very much related to our abilities to take in "SENSORY INFORMATION" and find "PATTERNS."
• Our BRAINS, IMMUNE SYSTEMS, MICROBIOMES, ENDOCRINE SYSTEMS, etc. ---- don't have an UNLIMITED CAPACITY to take in sensory information and process it.   ​​
• The gains we have made have been over vast STRETCHES of TIME and it is not without MISTAKES.
• Those MISTAKES often must be CLEANED UP by someone who hasn't been born yet.

The Star Institute is located in Centennial, Colorado

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​A pilot study by the STAR Institute found that the 35% of the children in one large sample (n=550) from a gifted and talented center exhibited symptoms of SPD (Sensory Processing Disorder).

This is significantly more than the 5% that pilot studies have found in the general population.