'Theory of mind' in the brain. Evidence from a PET scan study of Asperger syndrome.

• The ability to attribute mental states to others ('theory of mind') pervades normal social interaction and is impaired in autistic individuals. In a previous positron emission tomography scan study of normal volunteers, performing a 'theory of mind' task was associated with activity in left medial prefrontal cortex. We used the same paradigm in five patients with Asperger syndrome, a mild variant of autism with normal intellectual functioning. No task-related activity was found in this region, but normal activity was observed in immediately adjacent areas. This result suggests that a highly circumscribed region of left medial prefrontal cortex is a crucial component of the brain system that underlies the normal understanding of other minds.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Psykiatri (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Psychiatry (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

Autistic Disorder

physiopathology

psychology

Brain

physiopathology

Cerebrovascular Circulation

physiology

Humans

Male

Prefrontal Cortex

blood supply

physiopathology

Social Perception

Syndrome

Tomography

Emission-Computed

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)