Stereotyped movements ("stereotypies") are semi-voluntary repetitive movements that are a prominent clinical feature of autism spectrum disorder. They are described in first-person accounts by people with autism as relaxing and that they help focus the mind and cope in overwhelming sensory environments. Therefore, we generally recommend against techniques that aim to suppress stereotypies in individuals with autism. Further, we hypothesize that understanding the neurobiology of stereotypies could guide development of treatments to produce the benefits of stereotypies without the need to generate repetitive motor movements. Here, we link first-person reports and clinical findings with basic neuroanatomy and physiology to produce a testable model of stereotypies. We hypothesize that stereotypies improve sensory processing and attention by regulating brain rhythms, either directly from the rhythmic motor command, or via rhythmic sensory feedback generated by the movements.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8654322 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.spen.2021.100897 | DOI Listing |
Pharmacol Rep
January 2025
Research Laboratory CoreLab of the Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
Background: The current study investigated the effects of high-fat diet on acute response to 3,4-methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) in mice. MDPV is a beta-cathinone derivative endowed with psychostimulant activity. Similarly to recreational substances, consumption of palatable food stimulates the mesolimbic dopaminergic system, resulting in neuroadaptive changes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Electric fields used in clinical trials with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) are small, with magnitudes that have yet to demonstrate measurable effects in preclinical animal models. We hypothesized that weak stimulation will nevertheless produce sizable effects, provided that it is applied concurrently with behavioral training, and repeated over multiple sessions. We tested this here in a rodent model of dexterous motor-skill learning.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Psychiatry
January 2025
Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Via Campi Flegrei 34, Pozzuoli, 80078, Naples, Italy.
Lysosomal storage disorders characterized by defective heparan sulfate (HS) degradation, such as Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIA-D (MPS-IIIA-D), result in neurodegeneration and dementia in children. However, dementia is preceded by severe autistic-like behaviours (ALBs), presenting as hyperactivity, stereotypies, social interaction deficits, and sleep disturbances. The absence of experimental studies on ALBs' mechanisms in MPS-III has led clinicians to adopt symptomatic treatments, such as antipsychotics, which are used for non-genetic neuropsychiatric disorders.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutrients
January 2025
Key Laboratory of Precision Nutrition and Food Quality, Key Laboratory of Functional Dairy, Ministry of Education, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China.
Background/objectives: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impaired social interaction and repetitive stereotyped behavior. Effective interventions for the core autistic symptoms are currently limited.
Methods: This study employed a valproic acid (VPA)-induced mouse model of ASD to assess the preventative effects of L-proline supplementation on ASD-like behaviors.
Neurol Int
January 2025
Clinical Pediatrics, Department of Molecular Medicine and Development, University of Siena, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy.
Background/objectives: ZNF711(Zinc finger protein 711) encodes a zinc finger protein of currently undefined function, located on the X chromosome. Current knowledge includes a limited number of case reports where this gene has been exclusively associated with X-linked intellectual disability (XLID). As far as we are aware, we report the first cases of epilepsy associated with this particular variant.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!