A team of Israeli researchers have exposed the brain mechanisms involved in recognising the emotional states of others, with potential implications for treating social disorders such as autism.Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction. People with the condition often have restricted interests and repetitive behaviour.
The study, published in Current Biology, highlighted the role of the brain’s medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in emotional recognition and behavior, Xinhua news agency reported. Recognising emotions is crucial for empathy, allowing people to relate and respond appropriately to others.
For individuals on the autism spectrum, the ability is often impaired, making social interactions difficult. To understand the underlying neural mechanisms, the researchers from the Israeli University of Haifa (UH) used mice.