Out of time: a possible link between mirror neurons, autism and electromagnetic radiation

Medical Hypotheses
Ian M Thornton

Abstract

Recent evidence suggests a link between autism and the human mirror neuron system. In this paper, I argue that temporal disruption from the environment may play an important role in the observed mirror neuron dysfunction, leading in turn to the pattern of deficits associated with autism. I suggest that the developing nervous system of an infant may be particularly prone to temporal noise that can interfere with the initial calibration of brain networks such as the mirror neuron system. The most likely source of temporal noise in the environment is artificially generated electromagnetic radiation. To date, there has been little evidence that electromagnetic radiation poses a direct biological hazard. It is clear, however, that time-varying electromagnetic waves have the potential to temporally modulate the nervous system, particularly when populations of neurons are required to act together. This modulation may be completely harmless for the fully developed nervous system of an adult. For an infant, this same temporal disruption might act to severely delay or disrupt vital calibration processes.

References

Oct 1, 1987·Psychological Review·J J Freyd
Jan 22, 1971·Science·P D EimasJ Vigorito
Jan 1, 1994·Bioelectromagnetics·M ReiteB Pasche
Sep 22, 2000·Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering·N N LebedevaT Gailus
Jul 11, 2001·Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews·J H WilliamsD I Perrett
May 28, 2002·Development and Psychopathology·Jon BrockGina Rippon
Dec 17, 2002·Bioelectromagnetics·Robert K Adair
Jun 26, 2004·Annual Review of Neuroscience·Giacomo Rizzolatti, Laila Craighero
May 6, 2005·Cortex; a Journal Devoted to the Study of the Nervous System and Behavior·Caroline BrownJon Brock
Jul 5, 2005·Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research·Lindsay M ObermanJaime A Pineda
Sep 29, 2005·Bioelectromagnetics·Alexandre Legros, Anne Beuter
Nov 5, 2005·Neuron·Steven Dakin, Uta Frith
Jan 13, 2006·Current Biology : CB·Ian M Thornton, Günther Knoblich

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 24, 2009·Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology·Salvatore A Currenti
Jan 1, 2011·Autism Research and Treatment·Marta Macedoni-LukšičTanja Urbančič
Sep 27, 2007·Reviews on Environmental Health·Scott C Bello
Aug 18, 2009·Vision Research·David R SimmonsFrank E Pollick
Jun 28, 2014·International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience·Ibrahim AlsaeedAmer Kamal

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Autism

Autism spectrum disorder is associated with challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and often accompanied by sensory sensitivities and medical issues. Here is the latest research on autism.

Related Papers

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Francisco J Sanchez-Marin, Jose A Padilla-Medina
Brain Research. Cognitive Brain Research
Matthew K Belmonte, Deborah A Yurgelun-Todd
Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
Michael Rutter
© 2021 Meta ULC. All rights reserved