Empathy in Autism: Conception and Measurement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18046/recs.i25.2707Keywords:
Empathy, Autism, Neuropsychology, Cognition, Affect, Brain areasAbstract
This review analyzes the conceptual approach and measurement of empathy in the disorders on the autism spectrum. Empathy is a construct encompassing a variety of approaches in the cognitive sciences. In can be established that a diversity of conceptions of empathy exist. Studies show a dichotomy in the processing of empathy in subjects with autism, suggesting a deficit of empathy in cognitive functioning but not in affective functioning. In the study of these areas, there is a tendency to employ self-reports, questionnaires, and theory of mind tasks. however, brain measurements have shown atypical activations of the right prefrontal cortex, the temporoparietal junction, the insular cortex and the fusiform gyrus.
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