A survey of the impact of mirror neuron systems stimulation on development of receptive language, expressive language and speech in 5-8 year, female, Persian, autistic children

Recent advances in neuroscience have given rise to the discovery of new neurons called mirror neurons (1, 2 and 3). The current study aims to investigate the association between mirror neuron stimulation through purposeful movement imitation and verbal imitation with language development of autistic children.
The current research used a experimental, applied and available sampling design. Accordingly, first, the researchers designed an applied and easy model for autistic children rehabilitation based on mirror neurons stimulation using purposeful movement imitation and verbal imitation. Then, based on (TPR) technique, an 8-year-old autistic girl underwent an pilot study for 12 sessions lasting 4 weeks in Iran University of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, whereby positive and effective results were observed; then, other samples, i.e. five monolingual, Farsi-speaking autistic girls aged 5-8, were selected by available sampling and underwent 42 sessions during 14 weeks (three 20/30-minute session in each week), then the development of their receptive-expressive language skills as well as their speech was evaluated using Newsha Developmental Scale. Each sample, as a control sample, was evaluated before and after speech therapy courses based on mirror neurons stimulation. In addition, after a two-month suspension of the 14-week course, all samples were again evaluated with scoring Table; finally, the results stability was evaluated. SPSS (version 16) was used to do statistical data analysis.
the obtained results suggest that there is a significant difference between pre-test and post-test scores of receptive language (p mirror neuron stimulation through purposeful movement imitation and verbal imitation in autistic children positively affects development of receptive language, expressive language and speech skills. Therefore, this method can be used as a complementary technique in speech therapy of autistic children.