Is there a cerebellar component of autism? A study using the ‘Chromosome 7 duplicated’ (Dup) mouse model
2011 Seed Grant
Christian Hansel, Ph.D.
Department of Neurobiology
University of Chicago
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a brain disorder with devastating consequences for social interaction skills, which is further characterized by repetitive behavior and language impairment. Here, we want to test the hypothesis that specific ASD components, such as deficits in verbal fluency and categorization learning, are related to impaired cerebellar learning and plasticity. To this end, we will perform patch-clamp recordings and fluorescence imaging experiments to examine whether synaptic memory mechanisms in the cerebellum are dysfunctional in an established mouse model of autism.
