Project Summary

Evdokia Anagnostou, M.D., (Young Investigator 2006) of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, plans to use imaging to study the role of the glutamate system in autism spectrum disorder, a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that affects an individual's ability to relate to other people, interpret social clues, and communicate. Some evidence suggests the glutamate system may be abnormal in the brains of autistic children and that the abnormalities may arise after early childhood. In the proposed study, Dr. Anagnostou will use magnetic resonance spectroscopy to noninvasively measure glutamate in the brains of adolescents either with autism or normal intelligence. All adolescents enrolled will be offered a mock session in the scanner under the supervision of the clinical psychologist. If they tolerate this, they will have the actual scan. Subjects can bring their favorite video to watch during the scanning. Investigators will compare brain glutamate concentrations between the children with autism and the typically developing children. Investigators will measure other brain chemicals, such as choline, creatine and NAA.

Program Area: PERVASIVE DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS\Autism

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