Autism and Communication: Why Social Interaction Is Difficult

A group of friends communicating on a couch in a living room

Why can social interactions be difficult for those with autism? Why do autistic children gravitate toward adults? What is echolalia? For people with autism, communication and social interaction may be a struggle. This is because autistic people often struggle with eye contact, making connections, picking up on sarcasm, and more. Keep reading to understand more about why social interaction and communication are difficult for those with ASD.

How Lucid Dreaming Allows You to Control Your Mind

A woman sleeping, her brain is glowing in her head because she's learning to control her mind

What are the benefits of learning how to control your mind? How can lucid dreaming help you achieve that goal? While pleasure, fun, and play are valuable for mental and physical health, the true value of lucid dreaming is the opportunity it can provide for growth and learning. Lucid dreaming can help you control your mind, and therefore your life. Continue reading to learn how to gain better control of your mind.

Creativity and Passion: The 2 Ways They’re Linked

A creative woman passionately frosting a 2 tiered cake in her kitchen

Why is passion important for creativity? What are the two phases of passion? In the book Wired to Create, the authors say that passion is a necessary characteristic for any creative person. They say there are two phases of passion that most creatives experience that result in an artist finding a niche they enjoy. Here’s a look at the two ways that creativity and passion are linked.

Sensory Processing Issues & Self-Regulation in Autistic Individuals

A man covering his ears at a fireworks display because he has sensory processing issues

What are sensory processing issues? Why do many autistic people rely on routines? What is stimming? In his book NeuroTribes, Steve Silberman notes two major differences in the neural functioning of autistic people versus allistic people, specifically in terms of processing sensory input and self-regulation. Continue reading to learn how autistic people’s brains process stimuli differently.

3 Behavioral and Cognitive Patterns Associated With Autism

A bedroom full of action figures, signifying the cognitive patterns of autistic individuals

Why do many autistic people have passions for special interests? Why do they struggle to identify sarcasm? Steve Silberman, the author of NeuroTribes, explains that autistic people also behave and think differently from their allistic peers. They often have deep passions known as special interests, have a tendency for literal thinking, and view things from a unique perspective. Keep reading to learn about these behavioral and cognitive patterns, and how they can be both benefits and deficits.

Can You Learn in Your Sleep? Yes—With Lucid Dreaming

A sleeping girl dreaming of a book and learning in her sleep

How can you learn in your sleep? How can lucid dreaming help you improve your athletic performance? The authors of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming argue that through lucid dreaming, you can improve nearly any skill, both cognitive and physical. They even believe that training through lucid dreaming is more powerful than using mental imagery while awake. Keep reading to learn how you can learn and train while lucid dreaming.

Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming: Overview & Actionables

A cartoon image of a girl reading a book in bed, magical sparkles come from the book

How does lucid dreaming work? Can you learn and train while you sleep? What happens if you become lucid during a nightmare? In Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming, Stephen LaBerge and Howard Rheingold investigate the transformative power of lucid dreaming. They write that through lucid dreaming, the ordinary boundaries of reality dissolve. Here’s an overview of the book, with actionable steps you can take.

The History of “Asperger’s Syndrome”: Hans Asperger’s Research

A black and white photo of a man in a lab jacket standing at a wooden desk with paperwork

Who was Hans Asperger? Why was his research on autism so important? Hans Asperger was an Austrian physician who famously studied autistic individuals in the early 1900s. While some of his research has since been disproven and Asperger’s syndrome has been removed as a diagnosis, his research was important at the time. Continue reading for a history of Asperger’s syndrome and Hans Asperger’s research.

Eugenics and Autism in the Post World War I Era

A black and white photo of a man in a lab coat outside of a brick building

How were autistic people viewed in the early 1900s? What were Hans Asperger’s views on the extermination of disabled people? Between World War I and World War II, the eugenics movement began growing in popularity. Among the groups of disabled people that eugenicists believe in exterminating were those with autism. Keep reading to learn about the views on eugenics and autism in the early 1900s.