Were Einstein, Newton Autistic?

Yahoo! News ^ | 5/1/03 | Reuters

[NormsRevenge]

LONDON (Reuters) - Albert Einstein and Isaac Newton were geniuses but British scientists believe they may have suffered from Asperger syndrome -- a form of autism.

The condition, first described by Viennese physician Hans Asperger in 1944, is a disorder that causes deficiencies in social and communication skills and obsessive interests.

But it does not affect learning or intellect and many people with AS have exceptional talents or skills.

Although it is impossible to make a definitive diagnosis in people who are dead, Simon Baron-Cohen of Cambridge University and Ioan James of Oxford University studied the personalities of Einstein and Newton to see if the two scientists had symptoms of AS.

"Newton seems a classic case. He hardly spoke, was so engrossed in his work that he often forgot to eat, and was lukewarm or bad-tempered with the few friends he had," New Scientist magazine said on Wednesday.

Baron-Cohen said Einstein was also a loner and as a child he repeated sentences obsessively. Although Einstein made friends and spoke out on political issues, Baron-Cohen suspects he showed signs of Asperger syndrome.

"Passion, falling in love and standing up for justice are all perfectly compatible with Asperger syndrome," he told the weekly science magazine.

"What most people with AS find difficult is casual chatting -- they can't do small talk," he added.

But Glen Elliott, a psychiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco, said geniuses can be socially inept and impatient with other people without being autistic.

"Impatience with the intellectual slowness of others, narcissism and passion for one's mission in life might combine to make such an individual isolative and difficult," he told the magazine.

Baron-Cohen said he hopes the research can improve understanding of Asperger syndrome and make life easier for people who suffer from the condition.

[NormsRevenge]

x42 ? autistic 8-?

Nyahhhhh!!!

[NormsRevenge]

Yahoo page with lots of links to articles and other stuff about autism.

[Incorrigible]

Autism Bump.

I ain't buying it though.

[babble-on]

al gore - asperger's

[Mark Turbo]

Newton seems a classic case. He hardly spoke, was so engrossed in his work that he often forgot to eat, and was lukewarm or bad-tempered with the few friends he had

I don't think he ever got married, either.

[mattdono]

Why is it that people have jobs providing a definition to something that everyone already knows. I have always known this "syndrome" as being an "absent professor": brilliant and talented, but a little light on the common sense.

And, why is this a "syndrome"?

Why does everything have to be a "syndrome" or "disorder" or some other B.S.?

Is it just so these academics will have something to yammer on about?

Look, I am all for meaningful research and am as an inquisitive a fellow as you can find, but there just seem to be somethings that don't need to be studied.

[ChemistCat]

Autism is a spectrum...I have some autistic traits. I think it makes being a genius functional in some cases. Not caring what others think is a helpful aspect of some high-functioning autism.

It's sort of like trying to decide when grey isn't grey anymore, but is really black, or white.

[Slyfox]

Einstein couldn't do small chat with others? That' a load of bunk. He was good friends with Dr. Suzuki who began the Suzuki music method for children. They used to get together with their violins and would 'jam'. Small talk was part of their repertoire.

[Rabid Dog]

My son has Asperger's. He's absolutely off the scale genius in some areas and absolutely clueless in others. He also has an excellent sense of humor - which is atypical.

For the record, Acadamia is filled with Aspergers types. Some books refer to Acadamia as a "warehouse" for them.

[goodnesswins]

"Not caring what others think is a helpful aspect of some high-functioning autism."

OhOh....I'm in trouble....NOW I understand....just hope my family finally will.... LOL

[WellsFargo94]

al gore - asperger's

You do mean A$$ Purger, don't you? Every time that man open's his mouth...

[Rabid Dog]

ACADEMIA you idiot!!

[Mark Felton]

I don't small talk either, but I jam for hours (drums) with friends.

I talk plenty when there is a focus to the discussion. Music allows me to be expressive without the words, and use the words to achieve the expression by discussing the music.

For me words, must achieve a purpose. I hate small talk.

PS: No, I'm no genius..

[Ruth A.]

But Glen Elliott, a psychiatrist at the University of California at San Francisco, said geniuses can be socially inept and impatient with other people without being autistic.

Thank you for a voice of reason. This reminds me of that infamous poster that claims some famous poets/writers were homosexual. Of course the authors are famous and dead and many never came out of the closet.

Every group would love to have the famous or brillant to be among theirs.

[maxwell]

deficiencies in social and communication skills and obsessive interests

BWAHAHA! Folks, that is called "being a physicist". And I should know. [snortle]

[truthkeeper]

Yep, I can relate. My grandson has mild autism but is definitely a high functioner. He'll be attending regular kindgergarten in the fall, with two pullouts a week for speech, yet he is almost a genius in math. His teachers call him "the miracle boy"...and so do I. He is a joy and a delight.

[Quietly]

Baron-Cohen said he hopes the research can improve understanding of Asperger syndrome and make life easier for people who suffer from the condition.

Well, "suffer" is a pretty strong term for *all* people with Asperger's. Some people with AS are quite content, while others of a different mind-set wish they could be more socially adept, and some do "suffer." It depends on the person and the social conditions.

It's not accurate to characterize all those with AS as being aloof or impatient with others, either. Many are perfectly friendly and happy with others around, but are equally content to be alone with their own interests. Again, it depends on the person, the social environment, and where they are on the autism/AS spectrum.

[truthkeeper]

What, an autism ping list? Hey, stick me on it, will ya?

[Travis McGee]

This is the first time I have seen Asperger Syndrome mentioned on FR.

[Wilhelm Tell]

Can you imagine if Einstein were a child in our "modern" school system? Being just a little bit "different" is practically a crime--at the very least, it is considered a "disease" that can be treated by use of drugs and by turning schools into prisons. Let me quality that--if you are "different" in a trendy way other people are "different," say, you wear a nose ring or have orange hair or proclaim a hatred of books--that may be tolerated because that behavior marks you as a follower who can be easily manipulated. If you are truly different and have original ideas, if you think ideas are important, if you don't easily bend to the conventional wisdom of the moment--that is the sort of "difference" that is not tolerated in most schools (and elsewhere). Were it not for the "different" people, we would all be living in caves.