Individuals with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) have profound impairments in the interpersonal social domain, but it is unclear if individuals with ASC also have impairments in the intrapersonal self-referential domain.
Lombardo et. al. give an interesting introductory discussion of the "absent self" model of Frith. They then evaluate performance of 30 subjects and:
"conclude that individuals with ASC have broad impairments in both self-referential cognition and empathy. These two domains are also intrinsically linked and support predictions made by simulation theory. Our results also highlight a specific dysfunction in ASC within cortical midlines structures of the brain such as the medial prefrontal cortex."
![](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sYteobotIum7P4QfgcSfByxytPPZxfEn5yo3z2tmECOUfdxvTkNqeRx8pG6lEocCG_usore3TS8Lh3hqUjGb09Qve5A6_2xHhM2AozX3wEcSLbqQ4io3PMOw5EqIw=s0-d)
Figure:. Image showing the overlap in peaks of activation from studies of self-referential cognition, other-referential cognition, and theory of mind within the medial prefrontal cortex and posterior cingulate/precuneus.
Boundaries are 16mm from within midline. All peaks are taken from exemplary studies in the literature. Brain is depicted on a representative sagittal slice of the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) template
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