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Cerebellar abnormalities, particularly in Right Crus I (RCrusI), are consistently reported in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Although RCrusI is functionally connected with ASD-implicated circuits, the contribution of RCrusI dysfunction to ASD remains unclear. Here neuromodulation of RCrusI in neurotypical humans resulted in altered functional connectivity with the inferior parietal lobule, and children with ASD showed atypical functional connectivity in this circuit. Atypical RCrusI-inferior parietal lobule structural connectivity was also evident in the Purkinje neuron (PN) TscI ASD mouse model. Additionally, chemogenetically mediated inhibition of RCrusI PN activity in mice was sufficient to generate ASD-related social, repetitive, and restricted behaviors, while stimulation of RCrusI PNs rescued social impairment in the PN TscI ASD mouse model. Together, these studies reveal important roles for RCrusI in ASD-related behaviors. Further, the rescue of social behaviors in an ASD mouse model suggests that investigation of the therapeutic potential of cerebellar neuromodulation in ASD may be warranted.

Original publication

DOI

10.1038/s41593-017-0004-1

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Neurosci

Publication Date

12/2017

Volume

20

Pages

1744 - 1751

Keywords

Animals, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavior, Animal, Cerebellum, Child, Female, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Maze Learning, Mice, Mice, Transgenic, Neural Pathways, Purkinje Cells, Rest, Smell, Social Behavior, Young Adult