# Asperger's Spectrum - treating with TMS and "switching on" emotions - new book **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 21, 2016, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744 "2016-03-21T11:07:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2016, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/1 "2016-03-21T11:07:38Z")
Amazon link: [http://www.amazon.com/Switched-Memoir-Change-Emotional-Awakening/dp/0812996895/ref=asap\_bc?ie=UTF8](http://www.amazon.com/Switched-Memoir-Change-Emotional-Awakening/dp/0812996895/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8) From the Description: > [@](#): > > In 2007 John Elder Robison wrote the international bestseller Look Me in the Eye, a memoir about growing up with Asperger’s syndrome. Amid the blaze of publicity that followed, he received a unique invitation: Would John like to take part in a study led by one of the world’s foremost neuroscientists, who would use an experimental new brain therapy known as TMS, or transcranial magnetic stimulation, in an effort to understand and then address the issues at the heart of autism? Switched On is the extraordinary story of what happened next. > > Having spent forty years as a social outcast, misreading others’ emotions or missing them completely, John is suddenly able to sense a powerful range of feelings in other people. However, this newfound insight brings unforeseen problems and serious questions. I have heard of TMS and trying it with various neurological issues, but not in this way with people on the autism spectrum. I wonder how TMS is being viewed overall by folks in the “neurotribes” - people on the spectrum and their loved ones. By all accounts, and given the review in the NYTimes, this is seen as fully legitimate as a form of treatment that may affect different individuals different ways. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/2 "2016-03-22T03:47:03Z")
I haven’t heard of this before. The neurologists my daughter sees have never brought this up. I looked at the wiki site. Color me skeptical having been through dozens of “fads” “sure fire treatments” etc. Autism is a spectrum, and as most folks would say “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” In other words, there is a pretty huge range between folks on the autism spectrum, and it’s pretty difficult to translate what works for one person on the spectrum to another person. ABA therapy seems to be the one that shows consistently positive results. For example, “horse therapy” is touted as a miracle cure. There are definitely kids that respond to horses, horse back riding, etc. For some kids on the spectrum, the reward of a horse ride and/or interaction, breaks through and is a meaningful reward that positively affects their behavior. Most kids on the spectrum do the usual horse squeeeeeeeeeeee but it’s not a meaningful motivator, and some kids on the spectrum could care less. The takeaway is that horse therapy might be useful for your child, but no guarantee and you need to try and see if it might be effective. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/3 "2016-03-22T05:07:33Z")
Back in 2012 there was some hubbub about TDCS - transcranial direct current stimulation. In some people it could produce “flow”, the state where you’re just doing something rapidly and efficiently and not thinking about doing it. Some people were using home-brewed setups, basically not much more than a 9-volt battery and a couple of wires! There’s been almost nothing until recently. There are some reports it can help recovery from strokes. It sounds promising, but who knows? ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/4 "2016-03-22T06:10:44Z")
John Elder Robison posts here, doesn’t he? Maybe he’ll weigh in with some comments. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/5 "2016-03-22T11:02:02Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#): > > I haven’t heard of this before. The neurologists my daughter sees have never brought this up. > > I looked at the wiki site. > > Color me skeptical having been through dozens of “fads” “sure fire treatments” etc. Autism is a spectrum, and as most folks would say “if you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met one person with autism.” In other words, there is a pretty huge range between folks on the autism spectrum, and it’s pretty difficult to translate what works for one person on the spectrum to another person. ABA therapy seems to be the one that shows consistently positive results. > > For example, “horse therapy” is touted as a miracle cure. There are definitely kids that respond to horses, horse back riding, etc. For some kids on the spectrum, the reward of a horse ride and/or interaction, breaks through and is a meaningful reward that positively affects their behavior. Most kids on the spectrum do the usual horse squeeeeeeeeeeee but it’s not a meaningful motivator, and some kids on the spectrum could care less. The takeaway is that horse therapy might be useful for your child, but no guarantee and you need to try and see if it might be effective. **China Guy** , I thought of you. Yes, I get the impression that this writer tries to characterize his response as unique/extreme and that it is not clear that TMS is for all on the spectrum. His focus in the book is looking at his adjustments past that - once he has this unique switch-on result. **CairoCarol** - no, I had no clue. Perhaps you or I (if his username is his name or something obvious) can show him this thread… ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/6 "2016-03-22T14:05:40Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > **CairoCarol** - no, I had no clue. Perhaps you or I (if his username is his name or something obvious) can show him this thread… I sent you a PM explaining that I think I goofed - I’m pretty sure there is a poster here who IRL is well known in a not entirely dissimilar way, but I think I have conflated two different authors. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2016, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/7 "2016-03-22T22:23:50Z")
I’ve had Aspergers all my life, and never heard that there was a word for it until I was in my 60s. Before that, Aspergers children were just thrown into the general population, and learned to deal with social dynamics, to sink or swim. I would not want to be “cured”, nor would most other adult aspies. I’m happy enough living far out of the mainstream of neuro-typical drama and angst. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/8 "2016-03-23T06:11:34Z")
> [@jtur88](#): > > I’ve had Aspergers all my life, and never heard that there was a word for it until I was in my 60s. Before that, Aspergers children were just thrown into the general population, and learned to deal with social dynamics, to sink or swim. I would not want to be “cured”, nor would most other adult aspies. I’m happy enough living far out of the mainstream of neuro-typical drama and angst. And you, like some other Aspies I know, aren’t unemotional, so I’m not sure why this is supposed to work. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/9 "2016-03-23T07:10:19Z")
Oddly enough, I have been prescribed this treatment for my chronic migraines. The magnetic pulse is supposed to stop the cascade that causes the migraines. I have 2 kids on the spectrum and have heard nothing about the treatment being used for autism. My opinion on TMS for migraines - not really noticing a positive difference in terms of severity or frequency. I am finding it more unpleasant to use the device as time goes by. I think I will check out the book though. ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/10 "2016-03-23T09:03:42Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Back in 2012 there was some hubbub about TDCS - transcranial direct current stimulation. In some people it could produce “flow”, the state where you’re just doing something rapidly and efficiently and not thinking about doing it. Some people were using home-brewed setups, basically not much more than a 9-volt battery and a couple of wires! There’s been almost nothing until recently. There are some reports it can help recovery from strokes. It sounds promising, but who knows? Nitpick: tDCS is the usual spelling, lowercase and all. Which is weird because the T in TMS stands for the same thing. Repetitive TMS is normally rTMS though. This is news to me but anything like this is a treatment, not a cure. There should be no worries about ruining one’s personality or anything. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2016, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aspergers-spectrum-treating-with-tms-and-switching-on-emotions-new-book/749744/11 "2016-03-23T19:31:19Z")
The author [just wrote a column in the NY Times](http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/18/an-experimental-autism-treatment-cost-me-my-marriage/?_r=0) on this topic.