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Related Concept Videos

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia01:29

Biological Causes of Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia, a severe psychiatric disorder, arises from a complex interplay of biological factors, including genetic predisposition, structural brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter dysregulation, and developmental irregularities. These factors collectively contribute to the onset and progression of the disorder, which typically manifests in late adolescence or early adulthood.
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin studies.
Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders01:27

Psychosis: Pathophysiology of Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia is a neurodevelopmental disorder whose origins are rooted in complex genetic components. Despite our burgeoning understanding, the pathophysiology of this disorder remains incompletely deciphered.
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Autism Spectrum Disorder01:19

Autism Spectrum Disorder

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Association Areas of the Cortex01:21

Association Areas of the Cortex

Association areas are regions of the cerebral cortex that do not have a specific sensory or motor function. Instead, they integrate and interpret information from various sources to enable higher cognitive processes such as memory, learning, and decision-making. Some key association areas include the following:
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 26, 2026

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging
12:21

Probing the Brain in Autism Using fMRI and Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Published on: September 12, 2011

Spatial transcriptomics implicates the thalamus and cortex in autism and schizophrenia.

David M Young1,2,3, Ruchira Sharma1,4,5,6, Narjes Rohani7

  • 1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.

Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|May 25, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study reveals that genes linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia are most concentrated in the thalamus, cortex, and hippocampus. These findings highlight key brain regions involved in complex neuropsychiatric disorders.

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Area of Science:

  • Neurobiology
  • Genetics
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Significant progress in identifying genes for neuropsychiatric disorders like autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.
  • Single-cell data implicate neurons, but brain region involvement remains unclear.
  • Spatial transcriptomics offers a method for multi-regional analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the brain regions implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia using spatial transcriptomics.
  • To identify specific anatomical territories associated with neuropsychiatric disorder genes.
  • To elucidate shared and distinct patterns in brain region involvement for these disorders.

Main Methods:

  • Generation of a spatial transcriptomics dataset for the adult mouse brain sagittal midsection.
  • Application of the novel Gene Fraction Enrichment Score (GFES) statistic to compare gene enrichment across regions.
  • GFES controls for differing neuronal proportions to ensure accurate regional analysis.

Main Results:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-associated genes showed highest enrichment in the thalamus, followed by the cortex.
  • Schizophrenia-associated genes were enriched in the thalamus, hippocampus, and cortex.
  • The thalamus emerged as a critical region for both disorders, with supporting roles for the cortex and hippocampus.

Conclusions:

  • The thalamus plays a significant role in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and schizophrenia.
  • The cortex and hippocampus also show involvement, suggesting shared and distinct regional contributions to these disorders.
  • Findings provide insights into common mechanisms and circuitry underlying pleiotropic brain disorders.