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PMID: 14606691 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. Review

Model of autism: increased ratio of excitation/inhibition in key neural systems.

Genes, brain, and behavior ·Vol. 2 ·No. 5 ·2003-10-00 ·Pages 255-67

Rubenstein JL, Merzenich MM

Abstract

Autism is a severe neurobehavioral syndrome, arising largely as an inherited disorder, which can arise from several diseases. Despite recent advances in identifying some genes that can cause autism, its underlying neurological mechanisms are uncertain. Autism is best conceptualized by considering the neural systems that may be defective in autistic individuals. Recent advances in understanding neural systems that process sensory information, various types of memories and social and emotional behaviors are reviewed and compared with known abnormalities in autism. Then, specific genetic abnormalities that are linked with autism are examined. Synthesis of this information leads to a model that postulates that some forms of autism are caused by an increased ratio of excitation/inhibition in sensory, mnemonic, social and emotional systems. The model further postulates that the increased ratio of excitation/inhibition can be caused by combinatorial effects of genetic and environmental variables that impinge upon a given neural system. Furthermore, the model suggests potential therapeutic interventions.

MeSH Terms
Animals Arousal/physiology Autistic Disorder/genetics,physiopathology Evoked Potentials/physiology Humans Models, Neurological Neocortex/physiopathology Nerve Net/physiopathology Neural Inhibition/physiology Neural Pathways/physiopathology Neurotransmitter Agents/metabolism Rats
Chemicals
Neurotransmitter Agents
Authors & Affiliations
2 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Rubenstein J L R
Nina Ireland Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Center for Neurobiology and Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA. jlrr@itsa.ucsf.edu
Merzenich M M
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Article Info
Journal
Genes, brain, and behavior
Abbr.
Genes Brain Behav
ISSN
1601-1848
DOI
10.1034/j.1601-183x.2003.00037.x
Email
jlrr@itsa.ucsf.edu
Published
2003-10-00
Pages
255-67
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
101129617
PMCID
PMC6748642
Subset
IM
Grants
NIMH NIH HHS · K05 MH065670 · United States
NIMH NIH HHS · K02 MH01046-01 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1034/j.1601-183x.2003.00037.x PMC Full Text View journal details
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