"Discovery of Embryonic Brain Circuit May Shed Light on Autism Development"

Researchers have discovered a multi-layer circuit that forms in the cortex during an unexpectedly early stage of development. The circuit initially had two layers, a deep layer and a superficial layer, and was already highly active before the six-layer cortex had formed. The absence of two autism-associated genes caused significant autism in children and resulted in the superficial layer remaining active as a developmental remnant. The findings suggest that changes to embryonic circuits play a role in dysfunctions associated with neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorder.