Neurobehavioral disorders of childhood an evolutionary perspective /

Attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, asperger's syndrome, and autism, to name but a few, may be viewed as points on a spectrum of developmental disabilities in which those points share features in co...

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Main Author: Melillo, Robert.
Other Authors: Leisman, Gerry., SpringerLink (Online service)
Format: eBook
Language: English
Published: New York : Springer, 2009.
New York : 2009.
Physical Description: 1 online resource (xii, 447 pages) : illustrations.
Subjects:
Summary: Attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, asperger's syndrome, and autism, to name but a few, may be viewed as points on a spectrum of developmental disabilities in which those points share features in common and possibly etiology as well, varying only in severity and in the primary anatomical region of dysfunctional activity. This text focuses on alterations of the normal development of the child. A working theory is presented based on what we know of the neurological and cognitive development in the context of evolution of the human species and its brain. In outlining our theory of developmental disabilities in evolutionary terms, the authors offer evidence to support the following notions: Bipedalism was the major reason for human neocortical evolution; Cognition evolved secondary and parallel to evolution of motricity; There exists an overlap of cognitive and motor symptoms; Lack of thalamo-cortical stimulation, not overstimulation, is a fundamental problem of developmental disabilities; A primary problem is dysfunctions of hemisphericity; Most conditions in this spectrum of disorders are the result of a right hemisphericity; Environment is a fundamental problem; All of these conditions are variations of the same problem; These problems are correctable; Hemisphere specific treatment is the key to success.
Item Description: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Introduction -- Evolution of the Human Brain -- Why the Brain Works the Way it Does: Evolution and Cognition from Movement -- The Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia -- The Basal Ganglia -- The Thalamus -- The Limbic System and the Evolution of the Cerebral Cortex -- The Cerebral Cortex -- Signs and Symptoms of Neurobehavioral Disorders of Childhood -- Causation from an Evolutionary Perspective -- Therapeutic Theory and Strategy -- References -- Index.
Attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, asperger's syndrome, and autism, to name but a few, may be viewed as points on a spectrum of developmental disabilities in which those points share features in common and possibly etiology as well, varying only in severity and in the primary anatomical region of dysfunctional activity. This text focuses on alterations of the normal development of the child. A working theory is presented based on what we know of the neurological and cognitive development in the context of evolution of the human species and its brain. In outlining our theory of developmental disabilities in evolutionary terms, the authors offer evidence to support the following notions: Bipedalism was the major reason for human neocortical evolution; Cognition evolved secondary and parallel to evolution of motricity; There exists an overlap of cognitive and motor symptoms; Lack of thalamo-cortical stimulation, not overstimulation, is a fundamental problem of developmental disabilities; A primary problem is dysfunctions of hemisphericity; Most conditions in this spectrum of disorders are the result of a right hemisphericity; Environment is a fundamental problem; All of these conditions are variations of the same problem; These problems are correctable; Hemisphere specific treatment is the key to success.
Physical Description: 1 online resource (xii, 447 pages) : illustrations.
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN: 9781441912312
1441912312
9781441912329
1441912320