1. Introduction to autism research Ilan Dinstein

2. What is the cause of autism?

3. Dendrites Cell body Axon
חומר אפור ולבן, תאים וקישורים בין תאים - מיילין.
Axon

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
Substitution
Control > ASD
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
Compare animals with extremely similar genetics except for a specific modification.
Control > ASD

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

24. Anatomy – Cortical thickness

25. Anatomy – Cortical folding

26. Anatomy – white matter
Tractography
Fiber volume
Fiber length

27. Electroencephalogram - EEG
Control > ASD

28. Signal = Potential Difference

29. Source of EEG signals
What causes potential changes between the electrodes?
Synchronized cortical neural activity over large areas (>1cm) – Sources and Sinks.
Muscle contractions anywhere in the head.
Heart beat (ECG).
Electromagnetic noise – AC, Cell phones, etc…

30. Source of EEG signals
The larger the synchronicity, the stronger the signal (potential difference).
Topography of the brain – Sulci and Gyri.
Changing conductance in the brain – CSF, dura, skull (strong resistor).
Inverse problem – almost infinite combinations of dipoles can create the same potentials on the scalp.

31. Event Related Potentials

32. Event Related Potentials

33. EEG Frequencies

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

35. Post mortem studies
Brain slices:
Control > ASD

36. Post mortem studies
Cellular morphology
Control > ASD

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