Mar. 21, 2012 Healthy individuals who carry a gene variation
linked to an increased risk of autism have structural
differences in their brains that may help explain how the gene
affects brain function and increases vulnerability for autism.
The results of this innovative brain imaging study are described
in an article in the groundbreaking neuroscience journal Brain
Connectivity, a bimonthly peer-reviewed publication from Mary
Ann Liebert, Inc. The article is available free online at the
Brain Connectivity website. "This is one of the first papers
demonstrating a linkage between a particular gene variant and
changes in brain structure and connectivity in carriers of that
gene," says Christopher Pawela, PhD, Co-Editor-in-Chief and
Assistant Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin. "This work
could lead to the creation of an exciting new line of research
investigating the impact of genetics on communication between
brain regions." Although carriers of the common gene variant
CNTNAP2 -- identified as an autism r