University of Texas Southwest Medical Center investigators said their mouse model could help researchers better understand abnormal brain function in autistic humans, helping them to identify and improve treatment strategies.

The broader neuropsychiatric conditions avoided in the study include Fragile X, the most common cause of inherited mental impairment, and Rett Syndrome, a childhood neurodevelopmental disorder.

Autism is a neuropsychiatric disorder characterized by repetitive behaviors and by impairment in social interactions and communication skills. The symptoms can coexist with either enhanced or decreased cognitive abilities or skills.

"Prior to this study we knew next to nothing about the mechanisms of autism in the brain," said study researcher Dr. Craig Powell, an assistant professor of neurology and psychiatry. "With this research, we can study changes in the brain that lead to autistic behaviors and symptoms, which may help us understand more about progression and treatment of the disorder."

The study, led by Dr. Thomas Sudhof, was presented this week in Boca Raton, Fla., during the annual meeting of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.