Temple Grandin and Autism: Exceptional Cognitive Abilities

Introduction: Temple Grandin and Autism

Among the most extraordinary individuals diagnosed with autism is Dr. Temple Grandin, who, despite her condition, has earned a doctoral degree in animal science and serves as a Colorado State University professor and successful entrepreneur. Dr. Grandin, diagnosed with autism in 1950, is among the first autistic individuals to openly share her autism-related experiences with the public. She is also an inventor: she developed a "hug box" designed to calm fellow individuals diagnosed with autism (Grandin, 2004). Grandin did not speak until the age of three and a half years; her only ways of interacting with those around her and expressing the frustration she felt were through humming, peeping, and screaming.

Scientific Contributions to Animal Science

Around 50% of North American cattle are managed using Dr. Grandin's ingenious center track restrainer system. Her curved race and chute systems are employed worldwide, and her research on flight zones and other grazing-animal behavior principles has helped animal producers reduce cattle stress during handling. Dr. Grandin has also developed an objective scoring system for assessing pig and cattle handling, which has been adopted by numerous large companies focused on improving animal welfare (Grandin, 2004). Beyond these contributions, she has conducted research in cattle temperament, training procedures, bull fertility, environmental enrichment for pigs, stunning techniques for pigs and cattle, and methods for reducing bruising and dark cutters.

Visual Thinking and Cognitive Style

Dr. Grandin bases her understanding of reality on direct observation — for example, stroking cows' coarse hair and watching the way they turn to observe a truck picking up bales of hay across a field. The moment she hears the word "cow," she immediately sees photorealistic images of cows in her mind. She has remarked: "When I think about abstract concepts such as getting along with people, I use visual images such as the sliding glass door." She has also noted that as a child, she experienced visualizations that helped her understand the Lord's Prayer. The phrase "power and the glory" called to mind images of high-tension electrical towers and the glorious sun, while hearing the word "trespass" conjured up the "No Trespassing" sign her neighbor had posted (Grandin, 2004).

Dr. Grandin acknowledges that when she was young, there were certain parts of the Prayer she was simply unable to comprehend. She no longer needs to rely on visualization to grasp words, but she still feels a need to connect specific relationships to the knowledge she holds. As a visual thinker, Dr. Grandin applies this approach when designing equipment, allowing her to effectively visualize potential problems and how a project's components fit together. One area where this ability falls short is in recognizing people's faces when she has not known them for a sufficiently long time — a limitation that has occasionally created social difficulties due to her failure to recognize and respond to certain acquaintances (Grandin, 2004).

References

Grandin, T. (2004). Temple Grandin: Inside ASD. Autism Research Institute. Autism.com. Retrieved February 6, 2018, from

Tammet, D. (2011). Different ways of knowing. YouTube.