ABSTRACT
The skin is an envelope which emits and receives signals in interaction with the environment; it “vibrates” in resonance with it; it is animated and alive inside, clear and luminous. The autistic child has a notion-doubtless genetically pre-programmed-of such an envelope, but for want of concrete experiences to bring it into being, the envelope remains empty, dark, inanimate, dumb. Autistic envelopes thus provide a proof a contrario of the structure and functions of the Skin Ego.
