Imitation, mirror neurons and autism

Various deficits in the cognitive functioning of people with autism have be en documented in recent years but these provide only partial explanations f or the condition. We focus instead on an imitative disturbance involving di fficulties both in copying actions and in inhibiting more stereotyped mimic king, such as echolalia. A candidate for the neural basis of this disturban ce may be found in a recently discovered class of neurons in frontal cortex , 'mirror neurons' (MNs). These neurons show activity in relation both to s pecific actions performed by self and matching actions performed by others, providing a potential bridge between minds. MN systems exist in primates w ithout imitative and 'theory of mind' abilities and we suggest that in orde r for them to have become utilized to perform social cognitive functions, s ophisticated cortical neuronal systems have evolved in which MNs function a s key elements. Early developmental failures of MN systems are likely to re sult in a consequent cascade of developmental impairments characterised by the clinical syndrome of autism. Crown Copyright (C) 2001 Published by Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.