Rebecca Saxe’s work addresses the human brain’s capacity for abstract thought and the origins of ‘theory of mind,’ the ability to understand the beliefs, hopes and plans of other people.
Rebecca Saxe
Professor
Massachussetts Institute of Technology
From this contributor
U.S. agency backtracks on broad interpretation of ‘clinical trial’
Autism researchers need no longer worry that their basic research will become entangled in the red tape associated with clinical trials.
U.S. agency backtracks on broad interpretation of ‘clinical trial’
By
Hannah Furfaro
6 February 2018 | 6 min read
1985 paper on the theory of mind
In 1985, Simon Baron-Cohen, Alan Leslie and Uta Frith reported for the first time that children with autism systematically fail the false belief task.
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Scientists push back against stricter European Research Council grant application rules
In an open letter, scientists call the ERC’s suggestion to block grant reapplications for an additional year “at odds with scientific excellence.”
Scientists push back against stricter European Research Council grant application rules
In an open letter, scientists call the ERC’s suggestion to block grant reapplications for an additional year “at odds with scientific excellence.”
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Lauren Schenkman
29 April 2026 | 5 min read
New study questions role of persistent gene activity in memory maintenance
An experiment in sea slugs suggests transcriptional changes might fade after 24 hours.
New study questions role of persistent gene activity in memory maintenance
An experiment in sea slugs suggests transcriptional changes might fade after 24 hours.
By
Siddhant Pusdekar
28 April 2026 | 4 min read
Tracking health in autistic adults, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 27 April.
Tracking health in autistic adults, and more
Here is a roundup of autism-related news and research spotted around the web for the week of 27 April.
By
Jill Adams
28 April 2026 | 2 min read