Open Society

The emotional responses elicited by the way options are framed often results in lack of logical consistency in human decision making. In this study, we investigated subjects with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using a financial task in which the monetary prospects were presented as either loss or ga …

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by a core difference in theory-of-mind (ToM) ability, which extends to alterations in moral judgment and decision-making. Although the function of the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ), a key neural marker of ToM and morality, is known to be atypical in autistic individuals, the neurocomputational mechanisms underlying its specific changes in moral decision-making remain unclear. Here, we addressed this question by using a novel fMRI task together with computational modeling and representational similarity analysis (RSA). ASD participants and healthy control subjects (HCs) decided in public or private whether to incur a personal cost for funding a morally good cause (Good Context) or receive a personal gain for benefiting a morally bad cause (Bad Context). Compared with HC, individuals with ASD were much more likely to reject the opportunity to earn ill gotten money by supporting a bad cause than were HCs. Computational modeling revealed that this resulted from heavily weighing benefits for themselves and the bad cause, suggesting that ASD participants apply a rule of refusing to serve a bad cause because they evaluate the negative consequences of their actions more severely. Moreover, RSA revealed a reduced rTPJ representation of the information specific to moral contexts in ASD participants. Together, these findings indicate the contribution of rTPJ in representing information concerning moral rules and provide new insights for the neurobiological basis underpinning moral behaviors illustrated by a specific difference of rTPJ in ASD participants. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Previous investigations have found an altered pattern of moral behaviors in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which is closely associated with functional changes in the right temporoparietal junction (rTPJ). However, the specific neurocomputational mechanisms at play that drive the altered function of the rTPJ in moral decision-making remain unclear. Here, we show that ASD individuals are more inflexible when following a moral rule although an immoral action can benefit themselves, and experience an increased concern about their ill-gotten gains and the moral cost. Moreover, a selectively reduced rTPJ representation of information concerning moral rules was observed in ASD participants. These findings deepen our understanding of the neurobiological roots that underlie atypical moral behaviors in ASD individuals.

People with dyslexia have brains that are specialised to explore the unknown, and this strength has contributed to the success and survival of our species.

Bodily autonomy is a principle of the disability rights movement. With the overturn of Roe v. Wade, people with disabilities worry about how they will be disproportionately affected.

Local officials can do a lot to make life better for people with disabilities. And disabled voters no longer need to settle for vague expressions of sympathy and support from their local candidates.

It is essential that we center disability justice both as a policy priority and as an approach to the way we organize and mobilize voters. The disability...

There are dangers to assuming autistic people need routines, without understanding why. Otherwise, they can do more harm than good.

One day in April of 2021, Lindsey Bee decided it was time to deal with the laundry “doom piles” that had formed around her house. So she did...

This survey is collecting autistic and non-autistic people's experiences with recognizing autism. Conducted by Jinx Mylo with IRB approval from BGSU.

Zoom Meeting ID: 81035635717 • Host: • Meeting Start: 03/17/2022 @ 9:30 AM • Recording Start: 03/17/2022 @ 9:30 AM • Duration: 8 hrs 6 mins

A review of ‘A Mismatch of Salience: Explorations of the nature of autism from theory to practice’ by Dr. Damian E. Milton (2017) It was a real pleasure to read this illuminating book by Dr. Damian Milton. Damian is an esteemed colleague of Studio 3 and an expert in the autism field. He works for the National Autistic Society, is on the committee at Research Autism, and also teaches and lectures at the University of Kent. He is a committed advocate for the meaningful participation of autistic pe

“Starting a "Hard to Swallow Pills" series! I'll be covering various aspects of the #ADHD experience, and hard truths many of us need to remember. First prescription: Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria 💊”

The textbook signs of ADD — inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity — fail to reflect several of its most powerful characteristics; the ones that shape your perceptions, emotions, and motivation. Here, Dr. William Dodson explains how to recognize and manage ADHD’s true defining features of rejection sensitivity, emotional hyperarousal, and hyperfocus.

“hey you know how when you have #ADHD sometimes your thoughts are all swirly and you just keep chewing on the same thought over and over and you can't stop thinking about it and it's distracting you and sometimes even putting you in a really bad mood or making you irritable?”

Access the video replay, listen to the podcast episode (#278), download the slide presentation, and learn how to get a certificate of attendance for this ADHD Experts webinar originally broadcast on November 21, 2019.

Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is a raging storm of emotions Rejection-sensitive dysphoria is like a thunderstorm. I see it coming, dark clouds in the

A mom compares rejection sensitive dysphoria to emotional sunburn and shares how it feels to watch her son with ADHD struggle with it, too.

In this hour long webinar on demand, learn about emotional dysregulation and rejection sensitive dysphoria with William Dodson, M.D.

Rejection sensitive dysphoria, or the extreme emotional pain linked to feelings of rejection and shame, commonly affects children and adults with ADHD. Use this self-test to determine if your symptoms match those of RSD.

The emotional response to perceived or real failure can be devastating to people with ADHD. Learn why — and what you can do to take control.

Forty percent of individuals with bipolar disorder also have ADHD. The conditions’ symptoms typically overlap, however clinicians can successfully distinguish between them according to patients’ experience of emotions. Patients with ADHD — and, specifically, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD) — get triggered by a distinct event and then experience an intense but fleeting mood. People with bipolar disorder experience the random onset of a mood that lasts for weeks or months.

For people with ADHD or ADD, rejection sensitive dysphoria can mean extreme emotional sensitivity and emotional pain — and it may imitate mood disorders with suicidal ideation and manifest as instantaneous rage at the person responsible for causing the pain. Learn more about ways to manage RSD here.

Rejection sensitive dysphoria is one manifestation of emotional dysregulation, a common but misunderstood and under-researched symptom of ADHD in adults. Individuals with RSD feel “unbearable” pain as a result of perceived or actual rejection, teasing, or criticism that is not alleviated with cognitive or dialectical behavior therapy.

“I recently experienced a severe #SelectiveMutism period that stretched over several days, and realized something I don‘t see discussed a lot by other SMers: When my SM is severe, I can‘t only not speak orally. I also can‘t use alternative #communication. A small thread...”