In the unit devoted to the social self, the image of the visitor mingles with those of other visitors on the screen. How is consciousness of self and others developed?

A central column provides an introduction to the mystery of empathy. Our ability to acquire a mental image of another person and decode the social signals they send us draws on a wide range of brain circuits.
A baby a few days old is already able to distinguish inanimate objects from living beings. Very quickly, they learn to recognise the voices and faces of the people around them. At around three, they start to be able to see things from other people's points of view, decipher their mental states and guess their intentions.

What happens in autism, a disorder where these mechanisms are absent?