title: Advancing the discovery of medications for autism spectrum disorder using new technologies to reveal social brain circuitry in rodents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by core differences and impairments in social behavioral functioning. There are no approved medications for improving social cognition and behavior in ASD, and the underlying mechanisms needed to discover safer, more effective medications are unclear.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this review, we diagram the basic neurocircuitry governing social behaviors in order to provide a neurobiological framework for the origins of the core social behavioral symptoms of ASD. In addition, we discuss recent technological innovations in research tools that provide unprecedented observation of cellular morphology and activity deep within the intact brain and permit the precise control of discrete brain regions and specific cell types at distinct developmental stages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of new technologies to reveal the neural circuits underlying social behavioral impairments associated with ASD is advancing our understanding of the brain changes underlying ASD and enabling the discovery of novel and effective therapeutic interventions.
authors: Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors: Martien J
authors: MJ
authors: Kas
authors: Meera E
authors: ME
authors: Modi
authors: Michael D
authors: MD
authors: Saxe
authors: Daniel G
authors: DG
authors: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D059906:Neuroimaging / Q000379:methods*; D012377:Rodentia; D012919:Social Behavior