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Autism spectrum disorders are a group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are characterized by impaired social interaction and communication skills, and are often accompanied by other behavioural symptoms such as repetitive or stereotyped behaviour and abnormal sensory processing. Individual symptoms and cognitive functioning vary across the autism spectrum disorders.
Using in vivo two-photon microscopy, the structural dynamics of synapses in the prefrontal cortex of an autism model marmoset were studied. In the marmoset, clustered dendritic spine generation was heightened, which was attenuated by oxytocin.
A therapeutic strategy that alters gene expression in a rare and severe neurodevelopmental condition has been tested in stem-cell-based models of the disease, and has been shown to correct genetic and cellular defects.