1. Lecture 2 – Introduction to autism research Ilan Dinstein

2. What is the cause of autism?

3. Dendrites Axon Cell body

4. Neural activity

5. Modularity

6. Developmental disorder Brain development movie

7. Nature versus nurture Genes or Environment?

8. Genetics Control > ASD

9. DNA sequencing Control > ASD

10. Identify meaningful mutation Control > ASD Substitution Deletion Insertion

11. Determine the function of the gene What is the function of the protein that the gene encodes? Is it involved in neural transmission? Neural development? Synaptic development? Bourgeron 2009

12. Create a genetically modified animal model Control > ASD Compare animals with extremely similar genetics except for a specific modification.

13. Perform behavioral experiments Control > ASD Testing social behavior in mice

14. In vitro electrophysiology Control > ASD

15. In vivo electrophysiology Control > ASD

16. Electrical properties of cells & networks Control > ASD

17. Electrode location Control > ASD

18. Cellular morphology and connectivity Control > ASD

19. What about humans? Human genetics – SFARI, Autism Speaks Neuroimaging – MRI, fMRI, DTI Electrophysiology – EEG Post mortem

20. Human genetics

21. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

23. Anatomy - Separating tissues 1T1T2T2T

24. Anatomy – Cortical thickness

25. Anatomy – Cortical folding

26. Anatomy – white matter Tractography Fiber volume Fiber length

27. Electroencephalogram - EEG Control > ASD

28. EEG and epilepsy Spence, Pediatrics Res 2009 Control > ASD Epileptiform activity Epileptic seizure

29. Post mortem studies Brain slices: Control > ASD

30. Post mortem studies Cellular morphology Control > ASD

31. Post mortem studies Neural numbers and organization Control > ASD