If you like this post, please subscribe to the RSS feed. If you like this site, you'll love the newsletter!

I recently read an interesting article on one of my favorite blogs, Reports from a Resident Alien. In this article the blogger, a college-aged woman with Asperger’s, is complaining about the prevalent use of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as a therapy approach for autism.

(ABA, for those who don’t know, is a highly popular therapy that uses behavior-based interventions and principles to improve “socially significant” behaviors. People who believe in it swear by it.)

I shared her post on Twitter and Facebook and asked others what they thought of the idea that “it’s time to take autism out of 1950s behaviorism.” In return, fellow music therapist Michelle Erfurt asked “Are you going to do a blog post about this? I’d like to hear what you think.”

Here you go, Michelle.

First, a few disclaimers. I fully admit that I am not well-versed in ABA nor do I consider myself an autism expert. But perhaps this is an advantage and give me a fresh perspective on the debate? I’ve outlined below what I believe in at this point in my growth as a therapist.

Let’s see how it stacks up in the ABA debate…

Behaviors are a Form of Communication

I believe that behaviors are a form of communication. As the therapist, why not observe and analyze these behaviors, asking yourself: what is that child is trying to communicate? Are his senses overloaded? Does he need more sensory input? Is something else wrong?

It’s likely not enough to try and change the behavior. That seems too “superficial” to me. Instead, use the behavior to try and understand what’s really going on. It’s like reading someone’s nonverbal cues–you can often better understand how that person really feels through nonverbal cues than through words.

There’s a Place for Behavior-Based Therapy

I believe behavior-based principles have a place. I use them with my own children–positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, generalization–and can see a place for them when working with other children. Especially when it comes to trying to teach a new skill or behavior.

Extremes Do Not Work

I believe that extremes don’t work. We long ago realized that it’s not nature or nurture…it’s the interaction of the two. Therefore, it’s not all about the behaviors nor is it all NOT about the behaviors. Behaviors have a place in helping us piece together a picture of how our client is doing. But that’s certainly not all there is.

Children are Individuals

I believe that children are individuals. Therefore, a behavior-based treatment may work for some children and may not for others. There is a lot of research supporting ABA and it’s worth it for parents to try it as a treatment approach. Then, if ABA doesn’t work for your child, move on to something else.

In conclusion, I seems I believe that behavior-based treatment may have a place for some children–but it likely won’t be the only thing that works.

Those are my thoughts–what do YOU think? Please leave a comment in the boxes below to share your thoughts on the ABA debate.

Related posts:

1. Which is More Critical: Science-Based Treatment? Or Skilled Therapists?
2. The Traumatized Brain: Discover 3 Ideas that Will Change How You Work With Clients
3. What is Evidence-Based Practice?

If you like this post, please subscribe to the RSS feed. If you like this site, you'll love the newsletter!

Last fall, you heard The Neurodevelopment Song. In January, it was Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song. Today, I bring you the third song in this (yet-to-be-named) series: The 3 Neurotransmitters.

As therapists, we literally re-wire the brains of our clients. That type of re-wiring happens because of certain chemicals in our brain, called neurotransmitters.

The three neurotransmitters mentioned in this song (norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and dopamine) are used when “therapy” happens. That is, they’re used in the process of helping our clients learn new skills. These brain chemicals are released when we grab their attention, hold it by making the task interesting, introduce novelty to the task, and making it motivating.

(The lighting isn’t great on this video, but I’ll dedicate the light-blue tinge to my husband’s basketball team, the top-seeded UK Wildcats!!!)

P.S. I am very excited to announce that I’m one of the newest bloggers for Psychology Today! I published my first article earlier this week–From Beyonce to Sousa: The Power of a Beat. Thank you for everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging to me this week!!!

UPDATE: Per a reader’s request, here are the lyrics to “The 3 Neurotransmitters”

The Three Neurotransmitter
by Kimberly Sena Moore, MM, NMT-F, MT-BC

1) The brain undergoes tremendous change
In the first 3 years of life
After this you’re pretty much set
(Which is why you want to start out right)
But our brains reorganize and change
It’s called neuroplasticity
This works due to certain chemicals
Namely these three…

2) Our brain, it changes
Because of neurotransmitters
They help reorganize and change
Our brain’s parameters
There’s norepinephrine
And acetylcholine
Also dopamine
The 3 neurotransmitters

3) The Alerting Network
Tells us to pay attention
Uses norepinephrine
To drive new connections
Starting in the locus coeruleus
It alerts us to the stimulus
Use novelty, key for each of us
To release norepinephrine

4)    The Orienting Network
Starts in the basal forebrain
Enhances our focus
With acetylcholine
Uses arousal and reward
Don’t let the work be a chore
Make it motivating, interesting, don’t be a bore
To release acetylcholine

5)    The Executive Network
Is like a “save” button
Uses dopamine
Which rewards and punishes
If you want to retain new information
It helps to have some motivation
Keep reinforcing the situation
To release the dopamine.

6)    So know you know about
Neurotransmitters
And how you can use them
To change brain parameters
They help us pay attention
To focus our intentions
And respond to motivation
The three neurotransmitters

Related posts:

1. Let’s Start at the Neuro-Beginning…
2. 71 Things Everyone Ought to Know About the Brain (Part 1)
3. The Neurodevelopment Song (Video)

If you like this post, please subscribe to the RSS feed. If you like this site, you'll love the newsletter!

In the 1990s, scientists at the University of Parma were studying motor neurons in monkeys. They attached electrodes to a monkey’s brain cells responsible for movements. These electrodes recorded whenever those cells fired…a.k.a. whenever the monkey moved.

Monkeys like peanuts. The researchers set out peanuts for the monkeys to grab. Monkey grabs a peanut, motor neuron fires, electrode records.

Then an odd thing happened. The monkey watched a human pick up the peanut. Their motor neuron fired. The human picked up another peanut. The motor neuron fired again. The monkey hadn’t moved, but the motor neuron fired as if it had.

And that’s how these researchers accidentally discovered one of the coolest things in our brain: mirror neurons.

Mirror neurons are special brain cells that reside on either side of our head. These neurons fire when you do something…or just watch someone else do something.

You may ask: so what? The “so what” is that mirror neurons help tie us to other people’s actions and their feelings. This is important for:

• Empathy. When we see someone feel sad, we feel a little sad. When they’re happy, we’re happy. Mirror neurons help us develop empathy.
• Learning: One way babies learn new skills is by watching others. That’s why second children may learn how to crawl sooner than the first–because they’ve been watching older brother crawl. We don’t lose this ability. When we’re trying to learn something new, it helps to watch someone else do it–because of mirror neurons.

It’s also an important concept for therapists to understand…and it provides a bit of job security. We will never replace live therapists. Only a live therapist can show a client or patient how to do something–and let their mirror neurons work to help teach them.

Last December, I posted my first neuroscience-inspired song. I’m proud now to share with you my second–Watch and Learn: The Mirror Neuron Song.

CHORUS:

Watch and learn, watch and learn
Let your mirror neurons do their thing
Watch and learn, watch and learn
It’s time for your brain to change

1) Mirror neurons are specialized
One on each side of the brain
Near Broca’s and the inferior parietal lobe
Sending signals all over the place

2) They don’t care if they do or watch
They’ll fire the same every time
They influence feelings of empathy
Cause if I watch you, I’ll feel in kind

3) Mirror neurons may be fundamental
In how we connect with each other
They let me learn by watching you
Like a babe learns watching it’s mother

4) The implications for mirror neurons
Are vast, it affects therapy
If a client watches while I show them
What to do, their brain syncs with me

5) Some think those with ASD
Or autism, if you know what I mean
Their social challenges may be due
To broken mirror neuron circuitry.

6) Mirror neurons fire the same
No difference if you do or see
We literally change our client’s brains
When working with them through therapy.

Related posts:

1. 71 Things Everyone Ought to Know About the Brain (Part 1)
2. Let’s Start at the Neuro-Beginning…
3. The Neurodevelopment Song (Video)