Method Reveals Thin Insulation on Neurons in Autism Brains

Published September 24, 2014 in Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative

There is less myelin in the brains of people with autism than in those of controls, according to a study published in Psychological Medicine. Myelin is an insulating material that allows neurons to fire rapidly. Researchers applied a method that measures myelin in living brains with autism for the first time. The researchers speculate that low myelin explains the weak connectivity observed in the brains of people with autism. Without proper insulation, electrical signals travel slowly along the axons, making it difficult for regions of the brain to coordinate their activity.

http://sfari.org/news-and-opinion/toolbox/2014/method-reveals-thin-insulation-on-neurons-in-autism-brains

Filed under: , , , ,