is autism a chemical imbalance in the brain

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Research into the autistic brain has identified an imbalance inglutamate to GABA receptors. Deficient levels of GABA or problems with GABA receptors are thought to play a role in the excitatory elements of autism and ADHD.

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HealthDay Reporter. THURSDAY, Dec. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) — Scientists say they’ve discovered a specific chemical in the brain they believe is linked to autism. The Harvard University researchers found that autistic behavior is associated with a breakdown in the signaling pathway used by a major inhibitory neurotransmitter called GABA.

It is well known that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in social interactions. However, the biological causes of these difficulties are not well understood. In the brain, many social and associated behaviors are modulated by the release of a chemical compound called oxytocin 1.

Many autistic people have epilepsy, which results from too much excitation in the brain. Recordings of brain activity during sleep show that many people with autism have unusually frequent spikes of activity. Several mouse models of autism or related conditions also show signaling imbalances.

The autism brain may be overactive because of a 鈥榮ignaling imbalance鈥? too much excitatory signaling or too little inhibition. This may also explain why so many autistic people have seizures or epilepsy, which result from too much excitation. The hypothesis has garnered a large following over the years.