Cerebral cortical functional hyperconnectivity in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 8 (SCA8).

Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 8 (SCA8) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by a bidirectionally expressed CTG●CAG expansion mutation in the and genes. While primarily a motor disorder, psychiatric and cognitive symptoms have been reported. It is difficult to elucidate how the disease alters brain function in areas with little or no degeneration producing both motor and cognitive symptoms.