New Research Suggests Early Intervention Based on the Early Start Denver Model Promotes Brain Activity Supporting Imitation

Some autistic children often have difficulty imitating others. Imitation plays a big role in how individuals learn to interact with others. Through imitation, we learn about others’ facial expressions, gestures, and other nonverbal behaviors that are important for communication and social interaction. Thus, it is not surprising that helping autistic children learn to imitate others can have a positive influence on their social development. In a study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, Duke Center for Autism and Brain Development Director Geraldine Dawson, Ph.D., and her co-investigators showed that children who receive an autism intervention called the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) displayed changes in brain activity in a part of the brain dedicated to imitation, the “Mirror Neuron System.” Brain cells in this area “light up” when we imitate other people. The investigators used electroencephalography (EEG) to measure activity of the Mirror Neuron System and found that autistic children who received the ESDM intervention learned to imitate others and also showed increased activity of the Mirror Neuron System. ESDM, a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention designed by Dawson and Sally Rogers, Ph.D., leverages understanding about child development and learning to improve developmental outcomes for autistic children.

“ESDM is focused on the caregiver-child interaction and helps promote young children’s developmental rates in cognitive, social-emotional, adaptive, and language skills,” explained Dawson. “At the center, we provide ESDM and other evidence-based interventions to help each individual and their family address their unique needs and goals.”

Publicly available ESDM caregiver-coaching modules are offered on the center’s website to all families and providers.

Aaronson B, Estes A, Rogers SJ, Dawson G, Bernier R. The Early Start Denver Model intervention and mu rhythm attenuation in autism spectrum disorders. J Autism Dev Disord. 2021 Jul 26; Epub ahead of print.