14 DAY TRIAL // During a series of experiments which saw researchers led by Peter Enticott, PhD, use transcranial magnetic stimulation on a series of volunteers, the team determined that malfunctions in the human brain's mirror neuron system might be responsible for the impaired social functioning visible in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
Through the mirror neuron system, our brains literally recreate what the people we see are doing. Scientists believe that this mechanism evolved to enable us to empathize and sympathize with others, PsychCentral reports.
“We do not have a substantial understanding of the brain basis of autism spectrum disorder, or a validated biomedical treatment for the disorder,” Enticott says, adding that the new research holds great potential for future investigations into this possible correlation.