PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Social symptoms in autistic children may be caused by hyper-connected neurons

2013-11-07
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Mary Beth O'Leary
moleary@cell.com
617-397-2802
Cell Press
Social symptoms in autistic children may be caused by hyper-connected neurons

The brains of children with autism show more connections than the brains of typically developing children do. What's more, the brains of individuals with the most severe social symptoms are also the most hyper-connected. The findings reported in two independent studies published in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports on November 7th are challenge the prevailing notion in the field that autistic brains are lacking in neural connections.

The findings could lead to new treatment strategies and new ways to detect autism early, the researchers say. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting nearly 1 in 88 children.

"Our study addresses one of the hottest open questions in autism research," said Kaustubh Supekar of Stanford University School of Medicine of his and his colleague Vinod Menon's study aimed at characterizing whole-brain connectivity in children. "Using one of the largest and most heterogeneous pediatric functional neuroimaging datasets to date, we demonstrate that the brains of children with autism are hyper-connected in ways that are related to the severity of social impairment exhibited by these children."

In the second Cell Reports study, Ralph-Axel Müller and colleagues at San Diego State University focused specifically on neighboring brain regions to find an atypical increase in connections in adolescents with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder. That over-connection, which his team observed particularly in the regions of the brain that control vision, was also linked to symptom severity.

"Our findings support the special status of the visual system in children with heavier symptom load," Müller said, noting that all of the participants in his study were considered "high-functioning" with IQs above 70. He says measures of local connectivity in the cortex might be used as an aid to diagnosis, which today is based purely on behavioral criteria.

For Supekar and Menon, these new views of the autistic brain raise the intriguing possibility that epilepsy drugs might be used to treat autism.

"Our findings suggest that the imbalance of excitation and inhibition in the local brain circuits could engender cognitive and behavioral deficits observed in autism," Menon said. That imbalance is a hallmark of epilepsy as well, which might explain why children with autism so often suffer with epilepsy too.

"Drawing from these observations, it might not be too far fetched to speculate that the existing drugs used to treat epilepsy may be potentially useful in treating autism," Supekar said.



INFORMATION:

Cell Reports, Keown et al.: "Local functional overconnectivity in posterior brain regions is associated with symptom severity in autism spectrum disorders."



ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Kidney Week 2013: New approaches to assessing and protecting kidney health

2013-11-07
Kidney Week 2013: New approaches to assessing and protecting kidney health Atlanta, GA (November 7, 2013)—A variety of recent studies highlight new approaches to assessing and protecting kidney health. Below are the findings of some of these studies, ...

USC study identifies mechanism that makes ordinary stem cells create tumors

2013-11-07
USC study identifies mechanism that makes ordinary stem cells create tumors Epigenetic effects on cell signaling leads healthy stem cells to create benign fibromas in the jaw, according to a study led by Songtao Shi and published in the journal Cell Stem Cell A ...

Tricking algae's biological clock boosts production of drugs, biofuels

2013-11-07
Tricking algae's biological clock boosts production of drugs, biofuels Tricking algae's biological clock to remain in its daytime setting can dramatically boost the amount of valuable compounds that these simple marine plants can produce when they ...

Mayo Clinic researchers identify role of Cul4 molecule in genome instability and cancer

2013-11-07
Mayo Clinic researchers identify role of Cul4 molecule in genome instability and cancer ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Mayo Clinic researchers have shown that a molecule called Cul4 helps to deposit DNA-packaging histone proteins onto DNA, an integral step in cramming yards of genetic ...

Breakthrough discoveries on cellular regeneration seek to turn back the body's clock

2013-11-07
Breakthrough discoveries on cellular regeneration seek to turn back the body's clock Researchers reactivate gene to rejuvenate tissue repair, identify gene that promotes stem cell self-renewal DALLAS – Nov. 7, 2013 – Two groups of scientists at ...

Study finds that Americans want doctors' guidance on genetic test results

2013-11-07
Study finds that Americans want doctors' guidance on genetic test results In an era of commercialized medicine, direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing has been on a steady rise. Consumers can purchase a DNA sample kit, also known as a "spit kit," mail it to a testing ...

Human muscle stem cell therapy gets help from zebrafish

2013-11-07
Human muscle stem cell therapy gets help from zebrafish HSCI researchers improve therapy prospects Harvard Stem Cell Scientists have discovered that the same chemicals that stimulate muscle development in zebrafish can also be used to differentiate human stem cells into ...

Promoting chemistry through cooking: American Chemical Society Prized Science video

2013-11-07
Promoting chemistry through cooking: American Chemical Society Prized Science video One of Shirley O. Corriher's first lessons on how chemistry meets cooking came in the form of scrambled eggs stuck to a frying pan. That experience set the former biochemist ...

Scientists identify clue to regrowing nerve cells

2013-11-07
Scientists identify clue to regrowing nerve cells Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis have identified a chain reaction that triggers the regrowth of some damaged nerve cell branches, a discovery that one day may ...

UT Southwestern researchers discover a new driver of breast cancer

2013-11-07
UT Southwestern researchers discover a new driver of breast cancer DALLAS – Nov. 7, 2013 – A team of researchers at UT Southwestern has found that as cholesterol is metabolized, a potent stimulant of breast cancer is created – one that fuels estrogen-receptor ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Premenstrual symptoms linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Newly discovered remains of ancient river landscapes control ice flow in East Antarctica

Newly discovered interstellar object 'may be oldest comet ever seen'

Animal-inspired AI robot learns to navigate unfamiliar terrain

Underserved youth less likely to visit emergency department for concussion in Ontario, study finds

‘Molecular shield’ placed in the nose may soon treat common hay fever trigger

Beetles under climate stress lay larger male eggs: Wolbachia infection drives adaptive reproduction strategy in response to rising temperature and CO₂

Groundbreaking quantum study puts wave-particle duality to work

Weekly injection could be life changing for Parkinson’s patients

Toxic metals linked to impaired growth in infants in Guatemala

Being consistently physically active in adulthood linked to 30–40% lower risk of death

Nerve pain drug gabapentin linked to increased dementia, cognitive impairment risks

Children’s social care involvement common to nearly third of UK mums who died during perinatal period

‘Support, not judgement’: Study explores links between children’s social care involvement and maternal deaths

Ethnic minority and poorer children more likely to die in intensive care

Major progress in fertility preservation after treatment for cancer of the lymphatic system

Fewer complications after additional ultrasound in pregnant women who feel less fetal movement

Environmental impact of common pesticides seriously underestimated

The Milky Way could be teeming with more satellite galaxies than previously thought

New study reveals surprising reproductive secrets of a cricket-hunting parasitoid fly

Media Tip Sheet: Symposia at ESA2025

NSF CAREER Award will power UVA engineer’s research to improve drug purification

Tiny parasitoid flies show how early-life competition shapes adult success

New coating for glass promises energy-saving windows

Green spaces boost children’s cognitive skills and strengthen family well-being

Ancient trees dying faster than expected in Eastern Oregon

Study findings help hone precision of proven CVD risk tool

Most patients with advanced melanoma who received pre-surgical immunotherapy remain alive and disease free four years later

Introducing BioEmu: A generative AI Model that enables high-speed and accurate prediction of protein structural ensembles

Replacing mutated microglia with healthy microglia halts progression of genetic neurological disease in mice and humans

[Press-News.org] Social symptoms in autistic children may be caused by hyper-connected neurons