Motor imitation deficits and altered cortical activation in preschool-aged children with autism spectrum disorder: A task-based fNIRS study

Key Points

• Motor imitation deficits were observed alongside altered cortical activation in children with autism spectrum disorder.
• fNIRS imaging showed significant differences in brain activity during motor tasks associated with imitation.
• Assessment focused on preschool-aged children, enhancing our understanding of early neural markers of autism.
• Findings highlight the importance of addressing motor imitation in therapeutic strategies for autism spectrum disorder.