Understanding emotions in others: mirror neuron dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorders.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Dapretto M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3713227 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Understanding emotions in others: mirror neuron dysfunction in children with autism spectrum disorders.
Dapretto Mirella M Davies Mari S MS Pfeifer Jennifer H JH Scott Ashley A AA Sigman Marian M Bookheimer Susan Y SY Iacoboni Marco M
Nature neuroscience 20051204 1
To examine mirror neuron abnormalities in autism, high-functioning children with autism and matched controls underwent fMRI while imitating and observing emotional expressions. Although both groups performed the tasks equally well, children with autism showed no mirror neuron activity in the inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis). Notably, activity in this area was inversely related to symptom severity in the social domain, suggesting that a dysfunctional 'mirror neuron system' may underlie t ...[more]
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