A new finding shows that an increase, even if temporary, of cortical activity of newborn mice can lead to social-stunted growth in adulthood, Sarah DeWeerdt pens. This analysis further lends credence to the theory that autism is possibly from over excitement of signaling nerves in the brain or the lack of inhibitory signaling. Other studies have shown that autistic people have more excitatory synapses in the prefrontal cortex than those without the condition. This particular research also found that timing played a big role in development. Where the same condition was introduced in adolescence, such social maladaptation were not present in the mice, leading to further considerations of the background behind autism. Read more about this eye-opening study about autism with Sarah DeWeerdt’s writing.
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