Evaluation of Causal Theories Linking Imitation and Autism

Imitation is a social behavior that helps people build affiliation, acquire motor skills, and learn cultural norms. As these behaviors are altered in many autistic individuals, theories have long posited that altered imitation may cause core autism features. In the present work, we utilized the Simons Powering Autism Research Knowledge (SPARK) cohort (n = 19,053) to empirically evaluate three such theories: Ornitz & Ritvo (1968), Rogers & Pennington (1991), and Mostofsky & Ewen (2011). Using causal inference derived from structural equation models (SEM), alongside an edge-by-edge literature review, we falsified key claims of Ornitz & Ritvo (1968) and found novel evidence to support the view that imitation may function as a joint cause of social and motor skills. The present approach offers novel procedures for theory evaluation and provides discussion of what future theories of imitation—and subsequent evaluations—should entail.