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Can the shared circuits model (SCM) explain joint attention or perception of discrete emotions?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 April 2008

Bhismadev Chakrabarti
Affiliation:
Autism Research Centre, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom. bhisma@cantab.nethttp://people.pwf.cam.ac.uk/bc249sb205@cam.ac.ukhttp://www.autismresearchcentre.com
Simon Baron-Cohen
Affiliation:
Autism Research Centre, Cambridge CB2 8AH, United Kingdom. bhisma@cantab.nethttp://people.pwf.cam.ac.uk/bc249sb205@cam.ac.ukhttp://www.autismresearchcentre.com

Abstract

The shared circuits model (SCM) is a bold attempt to explain how humans make sense of action, at different levels. In this commentary we single out five concerns: (1) the lack of a developmental account, (2) the absence of double-dissociation evidence, (3) the neglect of joint attention and joint action, (4) the inability to explain discrete emotion perception, and (5) the lack of predictive power or testability of the model. We conclude that Hurley's model requires further work before it could be seen as an improvement over earlier models.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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