Did Blaise Pascal have autism spectrum disorder and a genetic predisposition for skull deformities?. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bianucci, R.; Perciaccante, A.; Lippi, D.; Charlier, P.; Appenzeller, O.
• Is Part Of: Medical hypotheses. Volume 122(2019)
• Page Start: 180
• Page End: 183
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Single mindedness -- Obsessive interests -- Repetitive behaviour -- Mathematical genius -- Autism spectrum disorders; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine -- Périodiques; Medicine; Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2018.11.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0306-9877

Abstract

Abstract: Many world-renowned scientists and artists had autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We suggest that the French mathematician and physicist Blaise Pascal (1623–1662) also had ASD. As a boy, he demonstrated his mastery of language, mathematics and science. He showed single-mindedness and obsessive interests in the pursuit of science in his younger years and later he pursued with religion with the same determination. Pascal neglected social interactions; he was cold and aloof and had an obsessive revulsion to any expression of emotional attachment. As shown by his funerary mask and the autopsy report Pascal had craniosynostosis (primary nonsyndromic oxycephaly) with atrophy of the right half of the face. Congenital facial asymmetry due to craniosynostosis has a genetic basis. This suggests that Pascal's facial deformity may betray his propensity to suffer from genetically determined diseases including ASD. Despite the intrinsic limitations of a diagnosis based only on biographical information, we surmise that Pascal had the three key symptoms (obsessive interests, difficulty in social relationship and problems in communicating) that characterize ASD individuals.