Individuals with autism spectrum disorders have less activity in a part of the brain that helps understand whether the person’s movement was imitated by others, according to new research. The Japanese research group was led by Prof Norihiro Sadato professor of the National Institute for Physiological Sciences (NIPS), National Institutes of Natural Sciences (NINS).

The research results will be published in the journal Neuroscience Research.

Researchers measured brain activity through functional magnetic resonance imaging, when a person’s movement was imitated by others. The group focused on brain activity when a participant viewed his or her finger movement imitated or not imitated by others. Normal subjects have increased brain activity in the extrastriate body area when an imitation occurs compared to not being imitated.

According to the official press release, the EBA is a region in the visual cortex for visual processing that forcefully responds during the perception of human body parts.

Patients with ASD generally experience difficulty in interpersonal communication and have difficulty noticing that their movement was imitated.

Ongoing behavioral intervention to alleviate ASD suggests that training using imitation is beneficial.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, autism spectrum disorder, ASD, is a group of developmental disabilities that may lead to significant social, communication and behavioral challenges. Affected individuals may repeat certain behaviors and are unwilling to change their daily activities.