196 Oxytocin, Autism, and how Autism Research works
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Release Date: 11/07/2025
203. Your student with Down Syndrome belongs in a mainstream Physics Class
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Most special education systems operate on this premise: Students with disabilities must master small foundational skills before they are allowed access to academic content. In practice, this often means students spend years repeating the same goals - decoding, counting, basic worksheets - while their peers move forward into real subjects like science, history, and mathematics. But what happens when a student with significant disabilities is simply included in a high school physics class? In this episode of Non Linear Learning, I speak with Sruthi Muralidharan, a...
info_outline
202. Inflammation, Energy, and Learning: A Functional Medicine Lens with Dr. Kendall Stewart
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Dr. Vaish Sarathy speaks with Dr. Kendall Stewart (former surgeon turned functional medicine + genomics clinician) about the biochemistry of learning: how inflammation, metabolic factors, neurotransmitter balance, and genetics can influence regulation, sensory stability, and why some kids respond to interventions while others don’t. What we cover: Why progress can look like “good days/bad days” when inflammation fluctuates Nutrigenomics vs exome sequencing vs pharmacogenetics (and why personalization matters) A parent-friendly clinical framework: inflammation → autophagy/insulin...
info_outline
201. Is School Costing Your Child Too Much? A Homeschooling Conversation
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Homeschooling sometimes begins when parents realize the education system is not serving their child. In this episode of Non Linear Learning, Dr. Vaish Sarathy speaks with Victoria Lenormand, a former detective turned holistic health practitioner and homeschooling parent, about what it takes to trust a child’s internal compass and let go of conventional definitions of success. Victoria brings an evidence-based perspective to homeschooling. Trained to observe patterns and follow facts, she applied that same mindset to her son’s learning and recognized that a linear schooling model was...
info_outline
200. Five “Helpful” Parenting Tips That Limit Autistic Learning
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Parents of Autistic children and children with Down syndrome are often given advice that sounds compassionate, reasonable, and supportive. But much of it slowly limits learning, flexibility, autonomy, and long-term growth. In this milestone Episode 200 of Non Linear Learning, Dr. Vaish Sarathy challenges 5 common pieces of parenting and education advice that unintentionally lower expectations and shift focus away from real learning. In this episode, you’ll learn why Dr. Vaish challenges: • Strict routines and rigid structure — and how too much predictability reduces tolerance for...
info_outline
199 Evidence, Rage, and Relief: A Mom–Son Team on Finding Spelled Communication
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
When 8-year-old non-speaking autistic Rafael found text-based communication, he didn’t just start “answering questions.” He started telling the truth about his body, his anxiety, and the frustration of being misunderstood. If you’ve ever looked at your non-speaking child and thought, “I know there’s more in there… I just don’t know how to reach it,” this conversation is for you. Today I’m joined by Daria and her 8-year-old autistic, non-speaking son Rafael, co-creators of on Substack and Instagram. After discovering text-based communication, they...
info_outline
198 How Understanding Apraxia changes your child's Education - with Dana Johnson
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
I first spoke with Dana Johnson nearly 4 years ago, and that conversation completely changed how I saw vision and learning. I call it my "ocular motor awakening" when I truly understood that vision has three components, and only one of them is corrected by glasses. Dana is the co-creator of the Spellers Method and the founder of multiple centers dedicated to helping non-speaking individuals communicate and learn with purpose. As both an occupational therapist (OT) and a Spellers Method practitioner, she brings a unique approach to supporting individuals with autism, apraxia, dyspraxia, and...
info_outline
197 Beyond Burnout: GABA Support, Mitochondria, and Realistic Help for Parents of Autistic Kids
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
If you're parenting an Autistic child and living in a state of constant alert (sensory overwhelm, dysregulation, sleepless nights, meltdowns, and the never-ending to-do list), this episode gives you a concrete biochemical map for how to get back to baseline. In today’s conversation,I’m joined by Dr. Scott Sherr board certified internal medicine physician, certified practitioner of Health Optimization Medicine, and COO of Troscriptions, a company making physician formulated, precision-dosed buccal troches for focus, stress, sleep, and immune function. We talk about: What is the...
info_outline
196 Oxytocin, Autism, and how Autism Research works
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
In this episode, psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Eric Strobl joins Dr. Vaish Sarathy to talk about a new re-analysis of the SOARS-B trial on oxytocin and autism. While earlier studies found no clear benefit, Dr. Strobl’s fine-grained, item-level analysis using machine learning uncovered consistent evidence that oxytocin can enhance social-emotional reciprocity the ability to engage, connect, and respond in social contexts. Together, they discuss: Why most autism drug trials fail to show benefit What “blunt outcome measures” really mean in clinical research How machine...
info_outline
195 What’s Your Excuse? Lessons on Problem-Solving, Asking for Help, and Doing the Next Thing
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
This may be the most heartfelt episode I’ve ever recorded. In this deeply human conversation, Maxwell Ivey: The Blind Blogger, and I talk about what it means to keep moving when life doesn’t hand you easy options. Maxwell lost his sight as a child, taught himself to code, built a business, and learned to ask for help without shame. We talk about the quiet power of asking, the courage to act before conditions are perfect, and a rare take on gratitude-not as politeness, but as the willingness to use what’s been given. Somewhere along the way, we find ourselves...
info_outline
194 Every Skill Can Be Built: Inside Non Linear Education with Daria Kotenko
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
before doors close (Friday 11:59 PM PT)
info_outline- Why most autism drug trials fail to show benefit
- What “blunt outcome measures” really mean in clinical research
- How machine learning can extract signal from noise in complex data
- What oxytocin actually does (and doesn’t do) in real life
- How future studies could use more nuanced, individualized measures
- Study Discussed:Strobl E et al. (2024). “Item-Level Analysis Reveals Oxytocin Improves Social-Emotional Reciprocity in Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Preprint
- Parker KJ et al. (2017). “A Randomized Clinical Trial of Oxytocin in Children and Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder.” Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA Psychiatry) Link
- Related Reading:
- On machine learning in psychiatry: Nature – Machine learning in mental health research
Key Takeaways- Oxytocin may help but not for everyone. Its most reliable effect seems to be reducing social anxiety and improving comfort in social exchanges.
- Measurement matters. “Blunt” outcome scales can bury meaningful results under noise. Item-level, data-driven analysis reveals nuance traditional methods miss.
- Autism heterogeneity is real. The same outward behavior can stem from different root causes - so future trials need precision tools, not averages.
- Hope through better science. New methods aren’t about hype—they’re about accuracy, compassion, and smarter research design.
- Instagram: @drvaishsarathy
- Free Guide: Turn ON Your Child’s Learning Switch
- Join the Non Linear Education Waitlist: Get on the list here →