44 : Neurodiversity : Breaking the Brain Mold

Neurodiversity refers to the natural variation in human cognitive functioning, encompassing different neurological profiles like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, etc. Rather than thinking of these differences as medical conditions in need of treatment, the idea of neurodiversity shifts this ideology to think about these differences as a form of natural human diversity, each offering distinct perspectives and contributions to society. This framework calls for changes in both clinical and cultural narratives but how do we approach this in the scientific community? In this episode, we discuss all things neurodiversity and talk about how neurodiverse perspectives are being included in biomedical studies in order to recognize, and support diverse neurological experiences. Matt joined the Scott lab in September 2022. He graduated from University of California Santa Cruz with B.S. in Cognitive Science with Honors and a minor in computer science and worked in the High Level Perception Lab under Professor Nicolas Davidenko. Professionally, Matt worked at Open Minds, Silicon Valley. Working closely with self-advocates, Matt helped found the Social Innovation Lab, a UX lab focused on inclusivity and accessibility in education. Currently, his research surrounds sensory integration and voluntary motor control using non-human primate models. Authors: Eve Racette, Golnar Taheri Email: [email protected] Instagram: @thinktwice_podcast LinkedIN: Think Twice Podcast Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/ThinkTwicePodcast Disclaimer: Think Twice is a podcast for general information and entertainment purposes only. The content discussed in the episodes does not reflect the views of the podcast committee members or any institution they are affiliated with. The use of the information presented in this podcast is at the user’s own risk and is not intended to replace professional healthcare services.