Ep. 71: Does Tylenol Cause Autism? w/ Dr. Ben Rein
In Today’s Episode: Does Tylenol Cause Autism? Join us as we talk with Dr. Ben Rein, author of Why Brains Need Friends, who shares his insights on the neuroscience of empathy, autism research, and the social divides shaping our understanding of science today. Dr. Ben breaks down the truth behind the Tylenol and autism debate, the biology of connection, and how empathy can be trained and strengthened through real, research-backed methods. Key Takeaways from Today’s Episode: -The real science behind autism — what genetics, environment, and neurobiology actually tell us. -Why claims like “Tylenol causes autism” spread online, and how misinformation takes root in our brains. -How to train empathy and literally build new neural hardware for connection. Questions We Answer in This Episode: -What does the research really say about Tylenol and autism? -How do genetics and brain signaling shape social behavior? -Can empathy and social connection be strengthened through neuroscience-based practices?
Key Points
- Social media can exacerbate political and social divisions by reducing empathy and reinforcing in-group biases.
- Engaging in empathy-building exercises like affect dyads and loving-kindness meditations can enhance one's capacity for empathy and improve social connections.
- The claim that Tylenol causes autism lacks substantial scientific evidence and is likely a result of misunderstanding correlations rather than causative factors.
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Transcript
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