Project: IMpaired cOordiNation between cortical areas as a key to diagnose Autism spectrum Disorders
| Acronym | MONAD |
| Duration | 01/04/2024 - 31/03/2027 |
| Project Topic | Worldwide, around one percent of the population is thought to be affected by autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nevertheless, in spite of being the focus of major research efforts, the causes and pathophysiological mechanisms that lead to ASD remain unknown. Consequently, there is a lack of biomarkers able to diagnose and stratify the presence of ASD, which can only be assessed by the occurrence of clinical symptoms – which are often shared with other conditions. Here we propose to test the hypothesis that, in individuals with autism, an imbalance in the activity of cortical interneurons disrupts the flexible coordination between different brain regions. This, in turn, would lead to an impairment in the processing of sensory stimuli, which is considered one of the hallmarks of ASD. To test this hypothesis, we will apply novel analytical tools to previously collected datasets in a mouse model of ASD and in human participants. This re-use of previously collected datasets will allow us to test our hypothesis across spatial scales, from the micro- to the macroscale, and link neuron-level mechanisms to measures applicable in a clinical setting. A computational model will be developed to validate our hypothesis mechanistically and to refine our analytical tools. If our hypothesis is verified, we will then develop a potential biomarker of ASD based on the estimation of the functional architecture of the cortical network of human participants, as evinced from collected EEG resting state activity. Ultimately, we aim not only to provide a novel understanding of the underlying physiological mechanisms that lead toward ASD, but also to develop a new biomarker to improve the diagnosis of this highly predominant condition. |
| Network | FLAG-ERA III |
| Call | Flag-ERA JTC 2023 |
Project partner
| Number | Name | Role | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Amsterdam | Coordinator | Netherlands | |
| The Hebrew University of Jerusalem | Partner | Israel | |
| Asociatia Transylvanian Insitute of Neuroscience | Partner | Romania |