According to a third psychological theory, autism's cognitive deficits and superiorities both stem from a cognitive style that emphasises rule-based analysis of predictable systems of objects and events.

This focus on systemising implies a complementary deficit in empathising, the ability to make inferences about the feelings and motivations of other people - since people seldom operate according to deterministic rules.

This empathising-systemising theory explains autistic obsessions and repetitive behaviours, and also autistic deficits in social and communicative skills.

However, just like weak central coherence, E-S theory has no straightforward link to processes that can be considered atomic at the neurobiological level.

Copyright © 2004 Matthew Belmonte. All rights reserved.