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Updated: Feb 20, 2026

Dynamic Clamp Methods to Investigate Impaired Neuronal Excitability Associated with Autism
Published on: October 17, 2025
Neural Hyperexcitability in Autism Spectrum Disorders
Yukari Takarae1, John Sweeney2
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX 75390, USA. Yukari.takarae@utsouthwestern.edu.
Abstract:
Despite the progress that has been made in research on autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the understanding of the biological basis of ASD to identify targets for novel, effective treatment remains limited. One of the leading biological theories of autism is a model of cortical hyperexcitability. While numerous genetic and epigenetic studies support this model, how this particular biological alteration relates to known phenotypes in ASD is not well established. Using examples of sensory processing alterations, this review illustrates how cortical excitability may affect neural processes to result eventually in some core clinical phenotypes in ASD. Applications of the cortical excitability model for translational research and drug development are also discussed.
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