title: The cognitive basis of a biological disorder: autism.
abstract: This article summarizes recent evidence indicating that individuals suffering from autism have a specific problem in understanding intentions and beliefs. We propose that this problem arises because they are incapable of forming a special kind of mental representation. A single cognitive deficit defines what is common to all autistic individuals. In contrast there is a wide range of proposals for the biological origins of the disorder.
authors.affiliation: MRC Cognitive Development Unit, London, UK.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Frith
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Leslie
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans