When we misread autistic people, it may not be a lack of empathy—it may be a mismatch

MedicalXpress | Aug 05, 2026

For years, autism has often been viewed through the lens of a simple assumption: that autistic people struggle to understand how others feel. However, accumulating research suggests the picture is far more complex. This new study, published in the journal Molecular Autism and led by Dr. Yonat Rum from Hebrew University, adds to this evidence and offers a more hopeful perspective.