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.
Explore more from The Transmitter
How to use artificial intelligence to strengthen scientific processes and scholarly output
As AI-driven systems are integrated into all aspects of science, we need to make sure that they read and write to a shared data and knowledge space.
How to use artificial intelligence to strengthen scientific processes and scholarly output
As AI-driven systems are integrated into all aspects of science, we need to make sure that they read and write to a shared data and knowledge space.
By
Satrajit Ghosh
6 July 2026 | 5 min read
The fast-expanding repertoire of mitochondria in the brain
More than cellular powerhouses, these organelles also seem to help synapses communicate, support memory formation and even shape behavior.
The fast-expanding repertoire of mitochondria in the brain
More than cellular powerhouses, these organelles also seem to help synapses communicate, support memory formation and even shape behavior.
By
Giorgia Guglielmi
3 July 2026 | 7 min read
When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 5: The war dial
“You have to reshape the whole system.” Tempest McDonald earns a measure of peace.
When autistic kids grow up, Chapter 5: The war dial
“You have to reshape the whole system.” Tempest McDonald earns a measure of peace.
By
Brady Huggett
2 July 2026 | 42 min listen