Update: New understandings of ASD

Autism spectrum disorder is a prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social difficulty and restrictive and/or repetitive behaviors. After looking at the multiplicity of genes implicated in the etiology of the extent of ASD symptoms were found to be long-reaching. Primary findings point to numerous risk genes for ASD that contribute to synaptic function. The synapse is the place where the signal is passed from one neuron to the next. This occurs in the brain as it develops. Scientist feel ASD is a disorder of these gene regulatory networks.