Korea Times- Latest Autism Research...

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Postech Unlocks Secret to Autism

By Ha

Staff Reporter

A team of researchers at Korea's Pohang University of Science and Technology

(Postech) has found new clues in understanding the development process for

autism, a brain disorder that impairs social interaction and communication

skills.

Kim Joung-Hun, a life sciences professor at Postech, and his research team

have found a brain mechanism through which the disorder is created. The new

finding was published this week by Proceedings of the National Academy of

Sciences.

Professor Kim and his team have found that a shortage of protein called

``neuroligin " secreted by amygdala may lead to the brain disorder. Amygdala is

an

almond-shaped structure in the brain, involved in the generation of emotions

and memories.

The Postech research team said the shortage of neuroligin can interfere with

normal activities between neurons and their synapses, leading to the onset

of autism.

``Neuroligin-1 is a potent trigger for the de novo formation of synaptic

connections, and it has recently been suggested that it is required for the

maturation of functionally competent excitatory synapses, " according to the

findings.

The research team manipulated brain chemicals of laboratory mice to mimic

this condition. When laboratory mice no longer produced neuroligin protein in

their brains, their neuron synapses' functional speed and adaptability dropped

markedly. Such deterioration in brain synapses leads to autistic symptoms.

This is reportedly the first time that a link between neuroligin protein and

autism has been demonstrated.

The research team says the finding will help further the understanding of

autistic development in human brains and in developing possible treatments for

the disorder.

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