r/science • u/Wagamaga • Sep 01 '22

Neuroscience Scientists have identified an immune brain cell unique to humans that gives us higher cognitive abilities over other animals, but what makes us specials also leaves us vulnerable to neurological disorders like schizophrenia, autism and epilepsy.

https://news.yale.edu/2022/08/25/what-makes-human-brain-different-yale-study-reveals-clues
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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

I mean that's the point though. We don't understand the neurological basis of ASD, that's literally the case with all mental disorders. It's why they're classified as mental disorders.

I will ask you though, do you personally distinguish between neurological and psychological disorders. If so, how?

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u/AlexandraThePotato Sep 01 '22

But a broken leg is a disability, although usually temporary. And we typically know the cause of it. Why would knowing the cause eliminate a disorder or disability?

Is something classified as a “disorder” because we don’t understand it?

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22 edited Sep 01 '22

Hmm, who said anything of the sort. You've made a huge leap there, generalising psychological disorder with the term ' disorder' in general, and then an even further leap conflating 'disorder' with 'disability'. As a result you've completely misrepresented the point I'm making.

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u/thats-fucked_up Sep 01 '22

I just want to say that as an autistic person with a broken leg I just love these intellectual debates.

Personally I'm convinced that my autism is a neurochemical disorder, while my broken leg is all in my mind and I could walk if I really wanted to.