The Role of Mirror Neuron System (MNS) in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Abstract

The Mirror Neuron System (MNS) is a group of specialized neurons that discharge when an individual
performs an action or observes another individual performing the same activity. This system is divided
into two principal hubs; the premotor area in the frontal lobe and inferior parietal lobule(IPL). Mirror
neurons play an essential role fundamentally in human social interaction, such as action observation,
imitation, understanding the emotions of others, and a myriad of other sophisticated human behavior and
thought processes as well as the theory of mind. Since people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
have disorders and defects in communication, social interaction, the theory of mind, etc . So it can be
suggested that defects in the mirror neuron system (MNS) may be linked to disorders like ASD and also
play an essential role in this phenomenon. In this review, we discuss this connection.