Autism and Mirror Neurons

A group of Swedish scientists from Uppsala University did a study with infants at 6 months of age, 12 months of age and adults. For example, they had each group watch video of an actor placing objects in a bucket. At 12 months and adulthood the groups could anticipate the placement of the objects in the bucket, but the 6 month old group could not.

This is shown through activity of the mirror neurons in the brain that aide people in understanding the intentions of others. "We think that this indicates that infants are endowed with a neural system that facilitates the acquisition of social understanding (the mirror neuron system)," said Prof Hofsten. "This has indeed important implications for the understanding of autism.

A recent study at The University of California in Los Angeles has shown that those with autism has almost no activity in the section of the brain which possess the mirror neurons. Dr. Mirella Dapretto believes this deficit is what disables autistics socially.

To read an article about the Swedish study go here.