Prof Simon Baron-Cohen, a leading researcher associated with the “extreme male brain” theory of autism, says he now regrets using the phrase and considers it unhelpful. In an exclusive report, The Guardian says Baron-Cohen believes his language has been misunderstood and that it has contributed to the misconception that autistic people lack empathy. The article states that while Baron-Cohen’s underlying ideas about autism—particularly the view that autistic traits can involve stronger systemising than empathising—have remained influential and have been supported by subsequent work, the specific “extreme male brain” label has led to misunderstandings. The report frames the change as a shift in emphasis on communication and public interpretation rather than a rejection of the core scientific concepts. Baron-Cohen’s remarks are presented in the context of his theory’s impact on popular perceptions of autism over the past two decades, and his view that the phrase “lends itself” to inaccurate readings about autistic people’s emotional abilities.