The big impact of the little brain: Uncovering the role of the cerebellum in autism developmental trajectories

Project summary

What do brain cells of individuals with autism look like? Here I plan to unravel how various genetic factors cause changes in the structure of brain cells that result in autistic behavior. In addition, I will investigate the most frequent non-genetic autism risk factor: damage to the cerebellum around birth. I will study how this form of autism differs from genetic forms. My research involves measuring brain connections and activity in lab animals using advanced methods.