Thus, the participants with ASD were as able to attend to the images as the control group and imitate the perceived emotional state. However, only the typically-developing children showed activity in the pars opercularis during the imitation task. The pars opercularis is associated with some mirroring functions.
As expected, the scans revealed that the participants with ASD had far less activity throughout the MNS. Also as predicted, results indicated an inverse relationship between MNS activity and autism symptom severity. Symptom severity was assessed by the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Interview.
Results therefore supported the hypothesis that ASD is correlated with a dysfunctional MNS. Children with autism often cannot understand, anticipate, or read the emotional expressions of others and the current study points to a possible underlying...
Typically developing children not only imitated the observed emotion but likely felt it as well; children with autism were able to imitate the observed emotion but most likely without feeling or understanding it. Researchers controlled for issues like gaze fixation and task readiness to bolster reliability. Results also show that mirroring functions are engaged via simple observation. Because those mirroring functions are impaired in children with ASD, their ability to read others is subsequently thwarted.
The current research sheds needed light on a troubling and perplexing disorder. By revealing neurological impairments that are at the root of autism and ASD, researchers may be able to develop curative therapies or pharmaceutical interventions. The study is the first of its kind, too, paving the way for future research that focuses on the role and importance of the MNS.
