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The ability to identify the emotional state of another person, through “embodied simulation,” is thought to occur through “mirror neuron” and “social neuron” systems and is defective in patients with autism spectrum disorders and in some patients with various other disorders, including anorexia nervosa (AN). These investigators examined emotional theory of mind in 40 patients currently ill with AN, 24 recovered patients (recovery, ≥1 year), and 47 healthy controls. Besides weighing less (mean body-mass index, <18.5) than recovered patients, currently ill patients had a lower mean IQ and more depressive and anxiety symptoms.
Participants had to read emotions portrayed in eye expression, recorded sentences, film clips, and music and to infer h…