Autism

Autism and The Male Brain

A theory proposed by British psychologist Simon Baron-Cohen holds that autism and Asperger's represent an exaggerated version of a typically "male" brain.

Whereas men are overall more efficient at systemizing and less capable of empathizing than are women, men and women on the autism spectrum display an extreme inclination towards systemizing. They are excellent at visual-spatial manipulation and rule-bound thinking, but display deficits in empathy and mind reading. For this reason, Baron-Cohen has labeled autism "mind-blindness."

Baron-Cohen's work helps explain why many more males than females are on the autism spectrum, though girls with Asperger's are frequently misdiagnosed.

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