Unbroken mirror neurons in autism spectrum disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The 'broken mirror' theory posits that mirror neuron system (MNS) dysfunction causes autism spectrum disorder (ASD) deficits.
• This theory has gained traction despite limited empirical support.
• Investigating MNS function is crucial for understanding ASD's core symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the 'broken mirror' theory of autism.
• To examine mirror neuron system (MNS) activity in individuals with ASD.
• To correlate MNS function with social communication skills in ASD.

Main Methods:

• Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to measure mu suppression, an indicator of MNS activity.
• Participants with ASD and controls observed and executed hand actions, and observed a moving dot.
• Oculomotor performance and visual attention were recorded concurrently.

Main Results:

• Mu suppression, indicating MNS activity, was similar in ASD and control groups.
• Both groups showed increased mu suppression when observing actions compared to a moving dot.
• ASD participants' MNS activity during action observation correlated positively with communication competence.

Conclusions:

• The study challenges the 'broken mirror' theory, suggesting MNS may be preserved in ASD.
• Intact MNS activity in ASD indicates it may not be the primary cause of social deficits.
• Symptom heterogeneity in ASD might relate to varying MNS function and communication severity.