An agent model for computational analysis of mirroring dysfunctioning in autism spectrum disorders

Persons with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may show certain types of deviations in social functioning. Since the discovery of mirror neuron systems and their role in social functioning, it has been suggested that ASD-related behaviours may be caused by certain types of malfunctioning of mirror neuron systems. This paper presents an approach to explore such possible relationships more systematically. As a basis it takes an agent model incorporating a mirror neuron system. This is used for functional computational analysis of the different types of malfunctioning of a mirror neuron system that can be distinguished, and to which types of deviations in social functioning these types of malfunctioning can be related.

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