Desvendando a empatia: Transformando a neurodeficiência infantil no contexto brasileiro de vulnerabilidade psicossocial.

This article presents the results of a recent study that explores the connection between empathy and cognitive abilities in Brazilian schoolchildren with developmental neurodisabilities and a history of school warnings for violent behavior. The study adapted the Affective and Cognitive Measure of Empathy (ACME) instrument for the Brazilian context and found robust psychometric properties for assessing empathy in this population. The study included a sample of 349 schoolchildren diagnosed with developmental neurodisabilities, with the most common issues being autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and learning difficulties. The study revealed associations between affective dissonance, episodic memory, and executive function, highlighting the complex relationship between cognitive domains and empathy. The authors emphasize the importance of understanding the broader sociocultural context in which these children, regardless of their neurodevelopmental status, find themselves, and call for inclusive and contextually relevant research to address the challenges posed by psychosocial vulnerability in Brazil. [Extracted from the article]