Abstract
Objectives
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) represent developmental conditions with deficits in the cognitive, motor, communication and social domains. It is thought that imitative behaviour may be impaired in children with ASD. The Mirror Neural System (MNS) concept plays an important role in theories explaining the link between action perception, imitation and social decision-making in ASD.
Methods
In this study, Emergent 7.0.1 software was used to build a computational model of the phenomenon of MNS influence on motion imitation. Seven point populations of Hodgkin–Huxley artificial neurons were used to create a simplified model.
Results
The model shows pathologically altered processing in the neural network, which may reflect processes observed in ASD due to reduced stimulus attenuation. The model is considered preliminary—further research should test for a minimally significant difference between the states: normal processing and pathological processing.
Conclusions
The study shows that even a simple computational model can provide insight into the mechanisms underlying the phenomena observed in experimental studies, including in children with ASD.
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Research funding: None declared.
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Author contributions: All the authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this submitted manuscript and approved submission.
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Competing interest: The funding organisation(s) played no role in the study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the report for publication.
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Ethical Approval: The conducted research is not related to either human or animal use.
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