Mirror neuron dysfunction in autism

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This is an older article, but I thought the results of the study were really interesting.

Autism linked to mirror neuron dysfunction

Basically, mirror neurons in a normal person activate when the person performs an action, or sees another person perform the same action. The activation of mirror neurons in response to another's actions will cause the person to unconsciously react to or imitate the action. In autism the mirror neurons activate when performing an action, but not when seeing another perform that action. This is at least partially responsible for the autistic being unable to respond to nonverbal social cues.

I think this one of the most relevant studies I have ever seen. It pinpoints exactly what is wrong with our ability to socialize. There are of course other contributing factors, but mirror neuron dysfunction can't be ignored.

It make sense to me. I have never been a person who likes to copy what someone else does. I've always had to create my own things and do them myself. In fact. I've always avoided trying to do what others do.

am interested in the topic of mirror neurons affects on autism as well.

personaly believe our lack of mirror neuron activation is why so many of us on the spectrum have a clear voice untainted by local accents,as these are learned by picking it up off others.

No, I don't believe in that theory.

One study does not a theory make. For example:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 081159.htm

This paints a different picture, but implies that mirror function normalizes around age 30. How can this explain autism or Asperger's? It doesn't. Even if this is a piece of the ASD puzzle there are clearly many other pieces that are required to explain our experiences.

I don't do things like yawn when other people yawn.

I don't believe that is true in all Aspies. I don't have much trouble reading body language and other non-verbal cues. My difficulties with socialising are due to other things like social anxiety, shyness, depression and put off by past experiences of being rejected so much.

When a person cries, it makes me cry. It happens every time. I suddenly go all sympathetic and empathetic. Today one of my colleagues broke down at work because she just got overwhelmed by all the rules and pressure that are going on in the workplace. I then felt tears coming to my eyes and I went all serious and felt like I was the one in her situation.

Also, usually when another person is embarrassed I can feel how embarrassed they are, and I find my face going red, even though I am not part of it at all.

Yes, I've seen this implicated many times within autism research. On the surface it seems to explain how people with autism may not pick up behaviours, forms of nonverbal communication so well or struggle with the acquisition of spoken language. However, I'm not sure if I buy it. Mirror neurons aren't well understood in humans as a whole. So I'd rather not suggest that malfunctioning mirror neurons or their systems are responsible for autism spectrum disorders before we know more about them. More research needs to be done; until then I'll remain skeptical.

i really hate doing things that other people around me are doing.