Tags for this video have been changed from 'savant, autistic spectrum disorder' to 'savant, autism, autistic spectrum disorder' - edited by kronosposeidon

Hviid A, Stellfeld M, Wohlfahrt J, Melbye M.

Danish Epidemiology Science Centre, Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark. aii@ssi.dk

CONTEXT: Mercuric compounds are nephrotoxic and neurotoxic at high doses. Thimerosal, a preservative used widely in vaccine formulations, contains ethylmercury. Thus it has been suggested that childhood vaccination with thimerosal-containing vaccine could be causally related to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether vaccination with a thimerosal-containing vaccine is associated with development of autism. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based cohort study of all children born in Denmark from January 1, 1990, until December 31, 1996 (N = 467 450) comparing children vaccinated with a thimerosal-containing vaccine with children vaccinated with a thimerosal-free formulation of the same vaccine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate ratio (RR) for autism and other autistic-spectrum disorders, including trend with dose of ethylmercury. RESULTS: During 2 986 654 person-years, we identified 440 autism cases and 787 cases of other autistic-spectrum disorders. The risk of autism and other autistic-spectrum disorders did not differ significantly between children vaccinated with thimerosal-containing vaccine and children vaccinated with thimerosal-free vaccine (RR, 0.85 [95% confidence interval [CI], 0.60-1.20] for autism; RR, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.88-1.43] for other autistic-spectrum disorders). Furthermore, we found no evidence of a dose-response association (increase in RR per 25 microg of ethylmercury, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.90-1.06] for autism and 1.03 [95% CI, 0.98-1.09] for other autistic-spectrum disorders). CONCLUSION: The results do not support a causal relationship between childhood vaccination with thimerosal-containing vaccines and development of autistic-spectrum disorders.

I disagree Choggie, that whole 10% thing is a popular science myth, people say it's only 10% because we use our brains in parts, electrical activity fires where needed when needed, every time you see a picture of a brain scan all people see is a few spots here and there. But over the long term you are using the entirety of your brain, like over the course of the day.

Where this phenomenon occurs is in perception suppression and mind-body control, we know that the brain receives more data then we actually perceive, now this makes evolutionary sense you wouldn't want to have your senses heightened at the expense of higher brain functions. For example your ability to dream is suppressed when you are awake, when you recall a memory you remember it in your mind and not in your minds eye like when you are asleep. Or when you think about something scary, and remember say a spider, your visual memory is suppressed so you don't see it in your minds eye.

So your body is constantly modifying your bodies response to the environment, if that changes it reacts in kind, if you see a car is about to hit you, some of your functions go offline and some go into overdrive, many people say how they have a loss of color when traumatic events occur such as airplane crashes, this because with adrenaline your reaction time increases and you have to act fast so some features become redundant.

Autism as is classified as a neurodevelopmental disorder that manifests in delays of "social interaction, language as used in social communication, or symbolic or imaginative play". So while Stephen Wiltshire has problems in these areas he has autistic spectrum disorder, the ability to capture visual information like computer data. Think of Rain Man, he has the ability to recall over 2000 years of historical data but suffers from the inability to interact socially.

Our normal perception also has those experiences but they are very faint because our perception of reality is controlled, think about professional athletes, you always hear them speak of being 'in the zone'. That perfect time where mind body reactions are synchronized, the entire experience becomes natural and without thought, the athlete is perfectly focused on his task. This comes through years of training and preparation. The same applies to soldiers in the field under fire, when adrenaline kicks in, they freeze, but then training comes back with the help of muscle memory and they react, at those times your perception of time slows down, seconds become eternity.

I believe unlocking the secrets of the mind is one of the 3 most important questions everyone should ask, alongside with why are we here? and are we alone?

you obviously didn't put in 'autistic spectrum disorder;, silly!!!!