title: Astrocyte mega-domain hypothesis of the autistic savantism.
abstract: Individuals with autism who show high abilities are called savants. Whereas in their brains a disconnection in and between neural networks has been identified, savantism is yet poorly understood. Focusing on astrocyte domain organization, it is hypothesized that local astrocyte mega-organizations may be responsible for exerting high capabilities in brains of autistic savants. Astrocytes, the dominant glial cell type, modulate synaptic information transmission. Each astrocyte is organized in non-overlapping domains. Formally, each astrocyte contacting n-neurons with m-synapses via its processes generates dynamic domains of synaptic interactions based on qualitative computation criteria, and hereby it structures neuronal information processing. If the number of processes is genetically significantly increased, these astrocytes operate in a mega-domain with a higher complexitiy of computation. From this model savant abilities are deduced.
authors.affiliation: University of Salzburg, Volitronics-Institute for Basic Research, Psychopathology and Brain Philosophy, Autobahnweg 7, A-5071 Wals, Austria. mitterauer@volitronics-institute.at
authors.forename: Bernhard J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Mitterauer
mesh_terms: D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*