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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Published on: September 12, 2011
Unbroken mirrors: challenging a theory of Autism
Victoria Southgate1, Antonia F de C Hamilton
1Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, School of Psychology, Birkbeck College, London, WC1E 7HX, UK. v.southgate@bbk.ac.uk
Abstract:
The 'broken mirror' theory of autism has received considerable attention far beyond the scientific community. This theory proposes that the varied social-cognitive difficulties characteristic of autism could be explained by dysfunction of the mirror neuron system, thought to play a role in imitation. We examine this theory and argue that explaining typical imitation behavior, and the failure to imitate in autism, requires much more than the mirror neuron system. Furthermore, evidence for the role of the mirror neuron system in autism is weak. We suggest the broken mirror theory of autism is premature and that better cognitive models of social behavior within and beyond the mirror neuron system are required to understand the causes of poor social interaction in autism.
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