Convulsing toward the pathophysiology of autism

Roberto Tuchman, Solomon L. Moshé, Isabelle Rapin

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

110 Scopus citations

Abstract

The autisms and epilepsies are heterogeneous disorders that have diverse etiologies and pathologies. The severity of impairment and of symptoms associated with autism or with particular epilepsy syndromes reflects focal or global, structurally abnormal or dysfunctional neuronal networks. The complex relationship between autism and epilepsy, as reflected in the autism-epilepsy phenotype, provides a bridge to further knowledge of shared neuronal networks that can account for both the autisms and the epilepsies. Although epilepsy is not a causal factor for autism, increased understanding of common genetic and molecular biological mechanisms of the autism-epilepsy phenotype has provided insight into the pathophysiology of the autisms. The autism-epilepsy phenotype provides a novel model to the study of interventions that may have a positive modulating effects on social cognitive outcome.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)95-103
Number of pages9
JournalBrain and Development
Volume31
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2009

Keywords

  • Autism
  • Epilepsy
  • Genetics
  • Neurobiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Phenotype

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Convulsing toward the pathophysiology of autism'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this