Some Autism Behaviors Linked to Altered Gene (IMAGE)

WashU Medicine

Some Autism Behaviors Linked to Altered Gene

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A limited number of neurons (red) in the brain produce serotonin, a chemical messenger. A newly identified genetic mutation can disrupt the production of serotonin and may underlie common behaviors seen in some people with autism, such as difficulty communicating and resistance to change, according to new research at Washington University in St. Louis and Rockefeller University in New York.

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Washington University

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