Excitatory/Inhibitory Balance and Circuit Homeostasis in Autism Spectrum Disorders.
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and related neurological disorders are associated with mutations in many genes affecting the ratio between neuronal excitation and inhibition. However, understanding the impact of these mutations on network activity is complicated by the plasticity of these networks, making it difficult in many cases to separate initial deficits from homeostatic compensation. Here we explore the contrasting evidence for primary defects in inhibition or excitation in ASDs and attempt to integrate the findings in terms of the brain's ability to maintain functional homeostasis.
Department of Biology and Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA. Electronic address: nelson@brandeis.edu.
Sacha B
SB
Nelson
Department of Biology and Center for Behavioral Genomics, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, Waltham, MA 02454, USA.
Vera
V
Valakh
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009415:Nerve Net / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000502:physiology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology