Geneva Researchers Identify Key Brain Circuit Behind Autism's Social Challenges

The disrupted pathway between the superior colliculus and ventral tegmental area offers new insights into ASD and informs early interventions that improve cognitive outcomes.

University of Geneva scientists discovered a faulty communication pathway between the superior colliculus and ventral tegmental area, impairing rapid attention shifts critical for social interaction in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Animal studies using Shank3 knockout mice revealed social orientation deficits that mirror those observed in children with ASD, highlighting the genetic and biological underpinnings of the condition.
A novel MRI imaging protocol developed for children aged 2 to 5 achieved over 90% high-quality brain scans without sedation, confirming similar circuit disruptions in young children with ASD.
Connectivity in the identified brain circuit has been linked to predicting cognitive development outcomes, offering a potential roadmap for targeted early behavioral interventions.
Intensive early intervention programs informed by these findings have led to significant developmental gains, including an average 20-point IQ increase and mainstream school attendance for 75% of participants.