EEG evidence for mirror neuron dysfunction in autism spectrum disorders.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are characterized by social and communication deficits.
• A dysfunctional mirror neuron system is hypothesized to contribute to ASD pathology.
• Mu wave suppression in EEG reflects mirror neuron activity during action observation and execution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate mirror neuron system function in high-functioning individuals with ASD.
• To determine if mu wave suppression differs between individuals with ASD and controls during observed and self-performed movements.

Main Methods:

• Measured EEG mu wave suppression in ten high-functioning individuals with ASD and ten controls.
• Participants watched videos of hand movements, a bouncing ball, and visual noise, and performed hand movements.
• Analyzed mu suppression in response to actual and observed actions.

Main Results:

• Control subjects exhibited significant mu suppression for both self-performed and observed hand movements.
• Individuals with ASD showed significant mu suppression for self-performed movements only.
• The ASD group did not exhibit significant mu suppression when observing hand movements.

Conclusions:

• Findings support the hypothesis of a dysfunctional mirror neuron system in high-functioning individuals with ASD.
• This dysfunction may explain deficits in imitation and social understanding observed in ASD.
• Mu wave analysis offers a potential biomarker for mirror neuron system integrity in ASD.