Research highlights a surprising fact in an article published in The Conservation. People on the autism spectrum have great difficulty reading the emotions of their fellow humans.
However, this is not the case with other living beings.
Empathy, which refers to our ability to understand and feel the emotions of others, is a cornerstone of the quality of human relationships, enabling cooperation, compassion and mutual aid.
When it is lacking, it leads to misunderstanding and conflict. However, humans have managed to blur the lines of their own emotional communication and can send behavioural signals that are sometimes difficult for others to interpret.
While in other species communication seems less easy due to the absence of speech, the expression of emotions is perceived as more transparent by people with autism spectrum disorders.
This study provides new insights into this disorder and helps to deconstruct the distinction between humans and other animal species: the human animal, one species among many.
Read the full article here.