One of the research areas that the identification of a mirror mechanism has inspired is autism research. Autism is a neurological disorder that is characterized by an impaired ability to process social cues, as well as a delay of motor understanding. Dr. Rizzolatti proposes that one aspect of autism might be an impaired mirror mechanism that is required for both motor learning and social understanding. This may contribute to their impairment, especially those deficits that involve comprehending and responding appropriately to others' behavior.
