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Neurosciences (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)
04, 2016;21 (2): 108-19.

Walk like me, talk like me. The connection between mirror neurons and autism spectrum disorder.

Jillian M Saffin, Hassaan Tohid
Author Information
  1. Jillian M Saffin: Department of Psychology, Northern Arizona University, Arizona, United States of America.
PMID: 27094520 DOI: 10.17712/nsj.2016.2.20150472

Abstract

Understanding social cognition has become a hallmark in deciphering autism spectrum disorder. Neurobiological theories are taking precedence in causation studies as researchers look to abnormalities in brain development as the cause of deficits in social behavior, cognitive processes, and language. Following their discovery in the 1990s, mirror neurons have become a dominant theory for that the mirror neuron system may play a critical role in the pathophysiology of various symptoms of autism. Over the decades, the theory has evolved from the suggestion of a broken mirror neuron system to impairments in mirror neuron circuitry. The mirror neuron system has not gained total support due to inconsistent findings; a comprehensive analysis of the growing body of research could shed light on the benefits, or the disadvantage of continuing to study mirror neurons and their connection to autism.

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MeSH Term

Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autistic Disorder
Female
Humans
Imitative Behavior
Male
Mirror Neurons
Social Behavior
Speech
Walking
Journal Article
Article has an altmetric score of 2

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