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Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 6, 2026

09:13
Testing Sensory and Multisensory Function in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Published on: April 22, 2015
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An autism-associated serotonin transporter variant disrupts multisensory processing.
J K Siemann1, C L Muller1, C G Forsberg2
1Neuroscience Program, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
Translational Psychiatry
|March 22, 2017
Summary
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show altered multisensory processing. A genetic mouse model of autism demonstrated deficits in integrating sensory information, implicating the serotonin system in these changes.
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Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Neuroscience
- Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
Background:
- Altered sensory processing and integration are common in autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- The serotonin system plays a crucial role in sensory development and function, with alterations implicated in ASD.
- A specific serotonin transporter (SERT) variant linked to sensory aversion in humans and ASD-like traits in mice was previously identified.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate multisensory function in a genetic mouse model with a gain-of-function SERT variant associated with ASD traits.
- To determine if disruptions in multisensory integration are present in this mouse model compared to wild-type (WT) littermates.
Main Methods:
- Mice were trained on independent auditory and visual tasks.
- Behavioral responses were assessed under unimodal (visual, auditory) and multimodal (audiovisual) conditions.
- Performance of SERT mutant mice was compared to WT mice.
Main Results:
- Wild-type mice showed enhanced response accuracy when integrating auditory and visual stimuli (multisensory gain).
- SERT mutant mice learned unimodal tasks similarly to WT mice.
- However, SERT mutant mice failed to exhibit behavioral gains under multisensory audiovisual conditions.
Conclusions:
- This study provides the first behavioral evidence of multisensory processing deficits in a genetic mouse model relevant to ASD.
- Results suggest the serotonin system is involved in multisensory integration.
- The findings implicate the serotonin system in the multisensory alterations observed in autism spectrum disorder.

