. Blog:Caution
The researchers believe that children with autism must use other parts of the brain in order to be able to perform the task that they tested.
For example, the autistic children might pay more attention to visual and motor clues without experiencing the internally felt emotional significance of the imitated facial expression.
Professor Michael Rutter from the Institute of Psychiatry, London, said: “The mirror neurons are interesting and there is some good research in animals looking at how they function.
“The general notion of linking mirror neurons with the social deficit in autism is quite reasonable.
“But we need more research into the brain systems that might be involved. These might involve mirror neurons, but we need more studies.”
The National Autistic Society said: “There is strong evidence to suggest that autism can be caused by a variety of physical factors, all of which affect brain development – it is not due to emotional deprivation or the way a person has been brought up.
“We welcome research into all areas which may throw light on the causes behind autism.”
Dr Bernard Rimland, of the Autism Research Institute, said it would be wrong to think the abnormalities were necessarily hard-wired.