Abstract #4429

Reduced GABA levels and altered sensory function in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Nicolaas AJ Puts^1,2, Ericka L Wodka^3,4, Ashley D Harris^1,2,5,6, Deana Crocetti⁷, Mark Tommerdahl⁸, Richard AE Edden^1,2, and Stewart H Mostofsky^3,7,9

¹Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, ²F.M. Kirby Center for Functional Brain Imaging, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, ³Center for Autism and Related Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁴Psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁵Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, ⁶Radiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, ⁷Laboratory for Neurocognitive and Imaging Research, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD, United States, ⁸Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States, ⁹Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, United States

Children with Autism often show difficulties processing sensory stimuli, but the underpinnings are poorly understood. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, plays a role in the pathophysiology of ASD. Here we show reduced GABA levels in children with ASD, which is associated with abnormal performance on vibrotactile tasks related to inhibition. We show that alterations in GABA can contribute to alterations in sensory processing in ASD.

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