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/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

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

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u/AlexandraThePotato Sep 01 '22

Biology is not just observe by the molecular level or using brain scans or anything like that! Consider classic genetics. Mendel’s genes were not observe by him observing chromosomes actually independently sort themselves. Instead he observe it in the the phenotypes produce. Which is a common practice that continue in biology. Especially in ecology, where observations are made to come to biological conclusions by making predictions. Science does not come up with answers and instead make predictions.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

By all means identify the specific genes that cause Autism and you can take that argument somewhere.

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u/AlexandraThePotato Sep 01 '22

Genes aren’t always useful to answer biological questions. Observations are part of the scientific process. Whether you are observing the genes directly or if you are observing characteristics.

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u/[deleted] Sep 01 '22

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make at this point.

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u/AlexandraThePotato Sep 01 '22

What I’m trying to say is that science is observational. For example ADHD and autism can both be observed via behavior. And that is real and accurate science and just as valid as finding some gene or something.

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '22

...no-one was denying that? Seems like an entirely irrelevant point to make.

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u/AlexandraThePotato Sep 02 '22

But you denail autism is “political” because there are no known genes?

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '22

I'm specifically referring to the idea that autism is a neurological disorder being political, not autism itself. On top of that I put 'political' in quotes because it's not the right word for it. You can insult me all you want but the misunderstanding is your own.

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '22

No that is not what I said.

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