Kevin+Casey

How do people with autism differ from people without it? 2/29/16- Joanne Ruthsatz, a professor specializing in child prodigies, wonders if there is a connection between prodigy and autism. She believes this connection could improve our understanding of autism and pave the way for new and better therapies. Ruthsatz has traveled the country identifying prodigies, listening to their stories, and testing their cognitive abilities. She has probed the foundation of their talents and discovered surprising differences among prodigies who specialize in different fields. Along the way, she's discovered previously unrecognized attributes, such as acute empathy. She then launched an investigation of the genetic basis of extreme abilities, and found hidden connections between prodigy and autism. The most obvious was a family link. Many of the prodigies had close autistic relatives.

Ruthsatz also focused not only on behavioral and cognitive profiles of prodigies but on their DNA as well. In searching for genes inherited by both prodigies and autists, a region on chromosome 1, known as 1p31-q21, emerged as statistically significant. A gene or genes in that area appear to be tied to both groups. She believes that this finding may explain one of the strengths that prodigies and autists often share, such as astounding working memory or attention to detail. More importantly is the study of the difference between individuals who have autism and those who appear to be at high risk but never develop symptoms. This may further pave the way for the development of treatments for those with autism.

This is very important research because I believe that our society has failed to understand issues in this area. These findings may hopefully be small steps toward better understanding of autism and eventually lead to change in our education system.

Well done! This reflects your effort to understand and apply what you are learning. Keep it up! 2/17/16-Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by impaired social interaction, verbal and non-verbal communication, and restricted and repetitive behavior. Signs are usually noticed in a person in the first two years of their life. These signs often develop gradually, though some children with autism reach developmental milestones at a normal pace and then regress. While autism is highly heritable, researchers suspect both environmental and genetic factors as causes, such as the vaccine hypothesis (which has been disproven). People with autism may be severely impaired in some respects but normal or superior in others. Autism's symptoms result from maturation-related changes in various systems of the brain. It affects the amygdala, cerebellum, and many other parts of the brain.

It is a highly variable condition however and consists of a wide spectrum of cases. There is considerable overlap among the different forms of autism. The wide variation of symptoms has led to the concept of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The three main types of ASD as determined by guidelines in the diagnostic manual of the American Psychiatric Association are Asperger's syndrome, pervasive developmental disorder, and autistic disorder. Asperger's syndrome is the mildest form of autism, and affect boys three times more than girls. Children with AS become obsessively interested in a single topic or object and learn all about it and discuss it nonstop. However their social skills are impaired and they are often awkward and uncoordinated. Children with AS frequently have normal to above average intelligence and have a high risk for anxiety and depression as they enter adulthood.

Autism is essentially a condition in which certain areas of the brain are underdeveloped while others may be overdeveloped. This is why autism is a spectrum, because every person is different, and everyone's brain is different. Therefore every case is different. It's also clear to me how a tendency toward obsessive and analytical thinking and different levels of maturity than average people can cause a high risk for anxiety and depression, as I was diagnosed with high functioning autism/Aspergers's syndrome. The next goal of my research will be to attempt to understand why autism exists.

Good start... I would continue this journal by identifying the types of diagnoses on the spectrum, then selecting one or two to research and describe in detail.

Something for you to reference Kevin: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-program-at-sap-hires-autistic-adults-for-specialized-skills/ http://www.weforum.org/agenda/2015/04/why-you-should-hire-people-with-autism http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/real-money-with-alivelshi/articles/2014/4/1/big-companies-sayitasgoodbusinesstohirepeoplewithautism.html http://www.inc.com/jeff-chu/sap-autism-india.html

12/16/15-I'm attempting to do research on the purpose of Gobekli Tepe. In a text written by Klaus Schmidt, it is said that the reliefs on the pillars were part of what seemed to be a mythology. They did not represent creatures from their day to day lives. There also were anthropomorphic sculptures. Ultimately only speculation can be made based off of the findings at the site. I've not been able to find any further info regarding the purpose of Gobekli Tepe, specifically other than the fact that it is one of the oldest religious sites in the world, which is somewhat commonly known.

12/3/15-For the next few entries I will be recording info about ancient structures in places other than Egypt. I'll start by doing research on the ruins of Göbekli Tepe, an archaeological site at the top of a mountain ridge in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. It was believed by archaeologist Klaus Schmidt to be a “Neolithic sanctuary.” Neolithic means to denote to the later part of the Stone Age. It is believed to have been first built around 7560 BC, and is the oldest building in the world. It is situated on a flat and barren plateau, with buildings fanning in all directions. Excavations revealed evidence of human impact and many remains of tools. The inhabitants are assumed to have been hunters and gatherers, and very little evidence of residential use has been found. Radiocarbon dating and comparative stylistic analysis indicate that it is the oldest religious site discovered anywhere. Schmidt believed that it was a pilgrimage destination attracting worshipers up to 100 miles around. Butchered bones of local game such as deer, gazelle, pigs and geese have been identified as refuse left over from food hunted and cooked. There also seems to be multiple layers that were built at different times, indicating that this temple or sanctuary complex was active for thousands of years. In my next journal I'm going to attempt to research what the inhabitants of this complex were doing or what religion they were practicing.

11/18/15-I will now be studying the Old Kingdom of Egypt. The Old Kingdom is most commonly regarded as the period from the Third Dynasty through the Sixth Dynasty, and is best known for the large number of pyramids constructed at this time as pharaonic burial places. Some Egyptologists believe that the pyramid represents a long continuum of the evolution of tomb design. Before the time of dynastic kings in Egypt, tombs were little more than open pit graves. Over time, modifications were made. The pit was lined with brick and roofed with wood and the number of chambers increased. The tomb was surmounted by a mound of gravel with an outer layer of mud. By the 2nd dynasty, brick corbel roofs were introduced as building technique grew more advanced. By the end of the 2nd dynasty, royal tombs were subterannean chambers cut deeply into stone, accessed by stairways. The 3rd dynasty saw the rise of the true pyramid-shaped superstructure, first as a stepped pyramid, then as a true pyramid with smooth sides. I am glad you have chosen a direction. Please add to this to receive full credit.

Kevin, where is journal #6 from 11/18?

11/2/15-I've begun research on the ancient Egyptian pharaoh Khafra, or Chephren, in an attempt to possibly better understand the purpose of the Sphinx, as well as the second largest pyramid of Giza, the Pyramid of Khafre. He was a king of the 4th dynasty during the old kingdom (2686 BCE-2181 BCE). Not much known about him other than the historical reports of Herodotus, an Ancient Greek historian who describes him as a cruel and heretic ruler. It is believed that the Sphinx may have been buit as a guardian of Khafra's pyramid and as a symbol of royal power, and this is because it lies close to the pyramid and it bears a certain resemblance to the facial structure seen in his statues. The Sphinx became deified during the new kingdom (1550 BC-1077 BC). Interesting Kevin. I am curious to know if the Sphinx was built as a structure with sharp edges b/c of the stone blocks and then shaped? Do Egyptologists have predictions as to how it looked before it was carved? 10/21/15-I will first delve into and attempt to uncover the mysteries of the Sphinx. The Sphinx sits on the Giza plateau, about 10km west of Cairo, on the west bank of the Nile River. Measuring 73.5m in length and 20m in height, it is the largest surviving structure of the ancient world, and although it's been affected by thousands of years of erosion, traces of the original paint can still be found near one ear. Most Egyptologists believe that a fourth dynasty pharaoh, Chephren, had the stone shaped into a lion with his own face in around 2540 BC. Author John Anthony West first noticed weathering patterns that were consistent with water erosion rather than wind and sand erosion. These patterns seemed to be different to the Sphinx and were not found on other structures on the plateau. A conclusion was then made that in order to have the effects of water erosion found, the Sphinx would have to be between 7,000 and 10,000 years old, as around 10,000 years ago the land was not arid but wet and rainy.

Good research Kevin! I like that you provided two theories to the same question. I look forward to hearing about the the reasoning behind the sphinx and pyramids.

10/8/15-I've looked into theories as to why the Egyptian civilization lasted so long. It seems that most people believe it was due to the Nile river, and that a large amount of grain was produced in the surrounding lands which fueled the economy and the inhabitants of that region. However I've also read that some think that it hasn't anything to do with the Nile and that it was because all of what is now the Sahara desert was at one time lush and fertile land, and as the land became arid, people bagan to migrate toward water, and those who settled near the river had a culture that flourished. Next I'll be looking more into early Egyptian history, and hopefully want to understand how and why whatever they were doing in that culture led them to build such epic structures as the Sphinx and the pyramids. My primary source is http://www.ancient.eu/egypt/

Good overview Kevin. Something to think about... Why did the civilization span so many centuries? What made it successful? Don't forget to end your journal with what topic you will research next. Also, provide a link for your website.

9/28/15-Egypt thrived for thousands of years, from approximately 8,000 to 525 BC. The Egyptian culture is famous for great cultural advancements in everything from arts to science to technology and religion. The monuments of Egypt influenced many ancient civilizations, including Greece and Rome. Evidence of overgrazing of cattle on what is now the Sahara Desert has been dated to about 8,000 BC. This evidence, along with artifacts discovered shows that a thriving agricultural civilization existed in the region at the time. The land was mostly arid, and hunter-gatherers sought the water of the Nile River Valley and began to settle there sometime prior to 5,500 BC. Organized farming then began in the region in about 5,000 BC and communities known as the Badari Culture began to rise along the river. There were many cultures to follow, all of which contributing to the development of what became Egyptian civilization. Written history began between 5,000 and 3,200 BC when Hieroglyphic Script was developed by the Naqada Culture. By 3,500 BC mummification of the dead was in practice at the city of Hierakonpolis. The city of Xois is recorded as being already ancient by 3,100-2,181 BC as inscribed on the Palermo Stone. Over time the small agrarian communities evolved into larger urban centers.

Okay Kevin... looking at the Smithsonian website can be helpful if you would like to find artifact pictures. I found limited articles here. I have attached the link below:

http://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/anth/

Now, here is a link with articles: http://www.history.com/topics/ancient-history/ancient-egypt This is a link to History.com. A website I used quite a bit when I was teaching American History. There is a lot here and would be a good start. There are videos you can watch and lots to read. Let me know if or when you have questions.

Kevin, I need some substance here. You have given me a diagram, but I need to know why? What did you research? What have you learned?

You can paste the poem here, I would be interested to read it. In your upcoming journal please analyze why the pyramids are known as a Wonder of the World. Also, include a picture and provide information explaining their purpose, structure, significance, etc. This is very interesting topic and I am looking forward to reading about and hearing what you learn.

9/17/15-This semester I am studying pyramids. It is a broad and possibly vague starting point. I plan to delve into various ancient structures such as temples, statues and lost cities. However I will begin with the most commonly known ancient structures, the Egyptian pyramids at the Giza Necropolis. The Great Pyramid was listed by Antipater of Sidon (an Ancient Greek poet in the second half of the second century BC) one of the seven wonders of the world. It is also the oldest of the Wonders and the only one still in existence. From there I will use references to expand my study and have a collection of knowledge that I hope I can gain understanding from.

5/12/15-The scientific community rejects astrology as a pseudoscience, having no explanatory power for describing the universe. Philosopher of science Karl Popper coined the scientific epistemology "falsificationism". Falsifiability of a statement, hypothesis or theory is an inherent possibility to prove it to be false. Some philosophers argue that science must me falsifiable. Philosopher Thomas Kuhn argued that it was not a lack of falsifiability that makes astrology unscientific, but rather that the process and concepts of astrology are non-empirical. Kuhn believed that astrologers had historically followed a sequence of rules and guidelines, but did no research because the fields are not amenable to research.

4/30/15-Astrology began to decline in popularity after Rome fell, and Christianity taught that it was the work of the devil. However as the church grew in power, they took up the practice of astrology for their own uses. St. Thomas Aquinas for example believed that the planets controlled everything. By the time the Renaissance was in full swing, astrology became popular again. During the 17th century when the Age of Enlightenment began to take hold with it's scientific accomplishments, astrology and astronomy became two different disciplines for the first time. Astrology was not popular though for awhile until the beginning of the 20th century. During the last century, astrology rose in popularity through several astrology magazines and books. In the 1930s, the United States had a very popular astrology program airing on the radio that helped spark interest, and also the New Age movement began in the 1960s and 70s, and it brought astrology with it.

4/20/15-I researched the term Hellenistic, which referred to Western astrology, and discovered that the term refered to a period known as the Hellenistic period, between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the beginning of the Roman Empire, at the time of the battle of Actium in 31 BC. At this time, Greek influence and power in Europe, Asia and Africa was at it's peak, as it was experiencing progress and growth in arts, sciences, exploration and other cultural aspects, however it's considered a time of degeneration and decadence when compared to the Classical era of Greece (5th-4th century BC). Also during the Hellenistic period, the Greeks began to practice Buddhism as a result of repeated invasions into India at the time of Alexander the Great and the establishment of the Indo-Greek Kingdom in 180 BC.

3/30/15-Chinese zodiac is unique and different from Western zodiac. In the Chinese zodiac, a cycle of 12 years goes through all 12 of the zodiac signs (in the Chinese system its the 12 animals.) Much like Western astrology though are the four trines in which the animals are divided up into. The first trine, rat dragon and monkey, are said to be intense and powerful, second are ox snake and rooster, said to have endurance and application, third are tiger horse and dog, said to be idealistic, independent and humanitarian, and the fourth trine, rabbit goat and pig, who are said to be calm, intellectual, artistic and compassionate. Also similar to Western astrology is that the animal sign by year is how others percieve you or how you present yourself, by month is called the "inner animal", by day is called the "true animal", and by hour is called the "secret animal", similar to the Western system of how signs are calculated.

3/18/15-I started researching Chinese astrology. The Chinese astrological systems developed during the Han Dynasty, from the 2nd century BC to the 2nd century AD. A central concept of Chinese astrology, as well as many Chinese fields, is the Wu Xing, also known as the Five Elements. It is used to explain many phenomena in the world ranging from cosmic cycles to interaction between internal organs. This system however is different from the Western system of the four elements originating from classical Greece, in that the Chinese elements are primarily concerned with process and change, as each element is seen as a phase or stage in a cycle, while Western elements are concerned with substances or natural qualities. The five elements of Wu Xing are Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. A memory jog that helps to remember the order of the elements is Wood feeds Fire, Fire creates Earth (ash), Earth bears Metal, Metal enriches water and Water nourishes Wood. How this goes with astrology is that the five classical planets are associated with the five elements. Venus is Metal (White Tiger), Jupiter is wood (Azure Dragon), Mercury is Water (Black Tortoise), Mars is Fire (Vermillion Bird) and Saturn is Earth (Yellow Dragon). Like most astrology, the position of these planets at a time of a persons birth along with the Sun, Moon, comets and zodiac sign is believed to be able to determine their destiny.

3/4/15-I started researching the Hindu astrological system. Hindu astrology, also known as Jyotisha, is broken up into three main branches. Siddhanta, which is Indian astronomy, Samhita, which is mundane astrology, predicting events related to countries such as political events, financial positions, war and a variety of things. Then there is Hora which umbrellas over many different aspects such as horoscopes, palm reading and interpretation of dreams. Although these studies are considered pseudoscience by the scientific community, there are Indian universities that offer advanced degrees in astrology as it is considered a traditional and classical study. Astrology is a very important facet of Hindu culture to this day. Newborns are traditionally named based on their astrological charts, and heavenly bodies including the planets are believed to have direct influence over the life of human beings and are related to karma.

2/19/15-Ive only researched western astrology at this point. It is based on Ptolemy's Tetrabiblos, which itself was a continuation of Hellenistic and ultimately Babylonian tradition. It is mainly horoscope based. A horoscope is a chart or diagram that represents the positions of the sun, moon, stars and other celestial bodies at the time of an event, such as a person's birth. The twelve signs of western astrology are believed to represent twelve basic personality types. They are divided into four elements, fire and air considered masculine, and earth and water considered masculine. For each element there are three signs that have different qualities: cardinal, fixed and mutable. For example, Capricorn is the cardinal earth sign, Taurus the fixed, and Virgo the mutable. They each have different characteristics. However an individial is only believed to possess the characteristics of a sign if the sun and/or moon is in its constellation at the time of their birth.

2/5/15-My independent study will be on astrology which is a subject I find interesting and also ties well into religion, as astrology tends to be vital to many religious beliefs. It also is a good place to pick up where I left off on religion. Ill start by outlining the basic elements of astrology and then go into the details. Ill also research how astrological ideology differs among cultures, and how they are all similar. Ill use resources that are mainly online and some books.

1/15/15-There is a theory that the christian bible is an astrotheological literary hybrid, as well as many other religions. This means that the stories and characters of the religions are actually just personifications of astrological objects and events. For example, probably the most important is Jesus. Horus, the egyptian god of the sun, happens to have a lot of parallels with jesus. Horus was born on december 25th, (the day the sun begins to move north after the solstice,) of the virgin Isis-Meri (the virgin refers to the constellation virgo, and virgo is also referred too as the "house of bread." Bethlehem literally translates to "house of bread.") His birth was accompanied by a star in the east, (Sirius,) which the three kings (also known as orion's belt) followed to locate the new born savior. He was also a prodigal child teacher at the age of 12, and was baptized at 30. He had 12 disciples (constellations,) and after being betrayed by one of them, was crucified, buried for three days and then resurrected. By December 22nd, the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky after having moved south for six months. It appears to stay still for three days, and during this time it's in the vicinity of the Southern Cross constellation. December 25th is the resurrection of Horus as well as Jesus, and many other religious figures including Attis of Phyrigia, Krishna of India, Dionysus of Greece, Mithra of Persia and others

12/22/14-One of the most important elements of religion is the idea of afterlife, which is found in most religions. Some religions believe in reincarnaton such as Hindu, some in Heaven and Hell type ideologies like Islam and Christianity, and some in both, such as Wicca. Some Wiccans believe heaven is eternal, in accordance with the cyclical nature of the universe, while other believe that one will eventually attain a place of rest called the Summerlands. This is similar to Buddhism in that it is belived that one is reincarnated until they reach Nirvana, which is a state of enlightenment, not an actual world like the Summerlands. However I have wondered before if in Christianity, Heaven and Hell are actually just states, like Buddhism, not actual worlds like Wicca. The bible is full of vagueness, which is why so many denominations exist for the many interpretations of it. An example is how in the bible it is said that "God is love," and heaven is the kingdom of god which is in his presence and free from sin. God may have actually just been used as a metaphor for compassion over sin, and heaven in this context could be interpreted as a state of love, not a physical place.

12/10/14-There seems to be a link between religion all over the world and music and art. There are quite varying stances however for different religions. For example, in Christianity music has been used for hundreds of years, while in Islam music is seen as a distraction from god. It can be seen as both ways because music and art are spiritual things and activate the same part of the brain as religion does. Much like from my last entry about how god causes release of dopamine, music also releases dopamine and this is why I think there's a link between the two. Some religions I think have done a better job of religionizing music and art than others, namely the catholic church, which is just another example of their genius. Islam though I believe have not made music and art religious and therefore fear that it will drive them away from the religion, whereas in the Catholics case, it has been the opposite. It's served to connect the followers with god, not disconnect them.

11/24/14-The Egyptian religion, being one of the first organized religions, made me wonder how it evolved. Some of the closest relatives to humans, chimpanzees and bonobos, exhibit some traits that would have been necessary for the evolution of religion. High intelligence, capacity for symbolic communication, sense of social norms, realization of self and concept of continuity are some of them. These primates share a common ancestor who lived several million years ago. Psychologist Matt J Rossano believes that religion evolved when humans discovered an effective way of regulating individual behavior by including ancestor spirits, gods and other supernatural entities. The beliefs evolved to help people restrain selfishness and build more cooperative groups. Another view is that religion was a product of dopaminergic functions in the human brain and an intellectual expansion that occurred thousands of years ago. Dopamine promotes an emphasis in distant space and time, which is critical for religious experience.

11/13/14-I've been researching the ancient Egyptian religion. It was a polytheistic religion that goes back to about 3000 BC, and lasted for 3000 some years. The religion and politics of Egypt were very intertwined. The pharaoh was believed to be the intermediary between the gods and humans, and when things were going badly, the pharoah was to blame. Hence when things were going well that meant he was doing his job well. Also the priests were of great importance, for they had many jobs, the most important of which to keep the gods pleased. They believed that after pharoahs died they became gods and that if they kept their body intact and preserved, that the pharoah would help them. This is why the pyraminds were built, as massive tombs. I find this general power structure interesting as it is eerily similar to the the beliefs of the catholic church, which came thousands of years afterward. The pharoahs role is comparable to the pope, as well as the priests. Also the culture was very resistant to change and tradition based, (how it lasted so long,) just like the catholic church. The catholic church may have been the successor to the Egyptian religion.

10/28/14-I've been doing a lot of research on the Catholic Church which is personally one of my favorite topics in religion. Specifically the Catholic Church in medieval europe and the roles that it played. The church claims to be the one true church, founded directly by Jesus when he supposedly appointed St. Peter the first pope. I know however that this is a biblical story, and the big problem with the bible is that it can be interpreted differently. There are people who believe that Jesus assigned St. Peter with the task of continuing to spread christianity in the way Jesus had, spreading the beliefs in a personal way. This is what many Protestants believe. I must credit the Catholics with the genius to use this in such a way to justify creating one of the most powerful and old organizations ever. For centuries throughout the Middle Ages, it was forbidden by the church to translate the bible into any language besides Latin and Hebrew. These were both dead languages in Europe. The true reason why I think is clear, because they wanted to be the only ones who could interpret the bible, therefore putting the power in their hands

10/17/14-I found a religion called Sikhism, a monotheistic one that was founded in the fifteenth century in India. It’s the only monotheistic religion other than the abrahamic ones i’ve found so far. It has it’s own beliefs, some of the most important of which including equality among all people and rejection of materialism and non-family oriented lifestyles among its followers. It is the fifth largest religion in the world behind Shinto and one of the fastest growing.

10/3/14- The three middle eastern religions Christianity Islam and Judaism are all monotheistic because they're all Abrahamic religions. That means that they trace their origin or recognize a spiritual tradition identified with him. Abraham is a biblical character who plays a prominent role in all three of those religions. Why though has the middle east been so influential on other cultures, especially Europe? One reason I believe might be the answer to that question is the fertile crescent, a region in Western Asia where many of the earliest human civilizations developed. It is often called the “cradle of civilization.” There are also many smaller religions that are prevalent throughout the middle east, such as Gnosticism, Yarsanism, Shabakism, Zoroastrianism and others. Many of these have similar beliefs as the big three, Christianity Islam and Judaism. All these small religions however have individual differences.

9/17/14-I've done research on the five biggest religions. The near eastern religions, Christianity, Islam and Judaism have one thing in common that the other two don't have: they are monotheistic. This means they believe there is only one god. Hindu believes in many gods, and most Buddhists don't believe in gods at all. This raises the question, why are the middle eastern religions monotheistic, and why in the far east is that not there? I haven’t found any truly monotheistic religions in the far east. Buddhism however is the one I've learned most about so far. It is a nontheistic religion that originated between the 6th and 4th century BC, based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama. Siddhartha was a wealthy prince who lived in eastern India, with a very sheltered lifestyle. He didn’t know pain or suffering until one day he went out of the palace to see the city and he saw an old man. He asked the carriage driver what was wrong with the man and he told him that he was old. Siddhartha had never seen an old man before and was shocked. He was so deeply moved by it that he found out all about suffering, death and disease, and dedicated his life to find out how to end all suffering. One night he left the palace, cut his hair and left his robes and became a homeless sage to begin his journey.

Nicely written. What do you plan on doing next?

The first Learning Journal is due September 5, 2014. It should be dated and include information about what you planning on accomplishing for your Independent Project.

9/5/14-My independent project will be a collection of data about religions from all over the world. I find religion interesting and hope that by studying many different religions and finding their differences and similarities, it will also help me to learn why they exist in the first place, why people seem to be so obsessed with it in certain cultures throughout history, and therefore the human mind. I will start with information on the most major religions such as Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism and Hindu using sources like http://www.religionfacts.com/, http://www.patheos.com/Library, and "Eastern Religions" by Elizabeth Seeger. Then I'll compare them, and do deeper research to see how the religions have evolved and how they affect the societies in which they exist. I hope to better understand why certain religious and spiritual ideas and beliefs evolved out of certain societies by the end of the project.

This seems very interesting. I look forward to reading your journal entries and learning new information.