Intact Automatic Imitation and Typical Spatial Compatibility in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Challenging the Broken Mirror Theory
Abstract
A lack of imitative behavior is frequently described as a core feature of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and is consistent with claims of mirror neuron system dysfunction in these individuals. Previous research has questioned this characterization of ASD however, arguing that when tests of automatic imitation are used—which do not require higher‐level cognitive processing—imitative behavior is intact or even enhanced in individuals with ASD. In Experiment 1, 60 adult individuals with ASD and a matched Control group completed an automatic imitation task in which they were required to perform an index or a middle finger lift while observing a hand making either the same, or the alternate, finger movement. Both groups demonstrated a significant imitation effect whereby actions were executed faster when preceded by observation of the same action, than when preceded by the alternate action. The magnitude of this “imitation effect” was statistically indistinguishable in the ASD and Control groups. Experiment 2 utilized an improved automatic imitation paradigm to demonstrate that, when automatic imitation effects are isolated from those due to spatial compatibility, increasing autism symptom severity is associated with an increased tendency to imitate. Notably, there was no association between autism symptom severity and spatial compatibility, demonstrating the specificity of the link between ASD symptoms and increased imitation. These results provide evidence against claims of a lack of imitative behavior in ASD, and challenge the “Broken Mirror Theory of Autism.” Autism Res 2016, 9: 292–300. © 2015 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Hyper-imitation is observed with increased autism spectrum disorder symptom severity.
“hyper-imitation can be observed with increased ASD symptom severity (Bird, Leighton, Press, & Heyes, 2007;Sowden, Koehne, Catmur, Dziobek, & Bird, 2016;Spengler, Bird, & Brass, 2010).”
From Interplay of self-other distinction and cognitive control mechanisms in a social automatic imitation task: An ERP study (2021) · cites this paper as Sowden, Koehne, Catmur, Dziobek, & Bird, 2016
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- Authors
- Sowden, S., Koehne, S., Catmur, C., Dziobek, I., & Bird, G.
- Affiliations
- King's College London (GB)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Sowden, Sophie
- Venue
- Autism Research
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2015-06-26
- Volume
- 9
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 292-300
- ISSN
- 1939-3792 (ISSN-L)
- 1939-3806
- OpenAlex
- W1534550476
- Cited by
- 74
- References
- 63
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 3
- FWCI
- 12.55
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Autism Research (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research (University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Medical Research Council
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Action Observation and Synchronization
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
- Keywords
- autism spectrum disorder, automatic imitation, mirror neuron system, imitation effect, spatial compatibility, autism severity, motor imitation
- MeSH terms
- Autism Spectrum Disorder, Adult, Female, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Male, Psychomotor Performance, Space Perception, Mirror Neurons
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