Autistic Children Not Susceptible to Contagious Yawning
In a fascinating article in HealthDay, Jenifer Goodwin reports that autistic children do not seem to be susceptible to contagious yawning, a normal response to seeing others yawn, and suggests that this behavior may indicate a lack of recognition of others’ feelings. Yawning is a type of “emotional contagion” or unconscious response that reflects how others are feeling. Autistic children’s lack of imitation may account for their not being able to learn empathy and other social skills. Follow the link below to read the entire article.