Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are characterized by impairments in social behaviors
that are sometimes coupled to specialized cognitive abilities. A small percentage of ASD …

CNS deletion of Pten in the mouse has revealed its roles in controlling cell size and number,
thus providing compelling etiology for macrocephaly and Lhermitte-Duclos disease. PTEN …

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal development and function.
However, it has been difficult to discern its role in the adult brain in influencing complex behavior…

Neuroligins (NLs) are a family of neural cell-adhesion molecules that are involved in
excitatory/inhibitory synapse specification. Multiple members of the NL family (including NL1) and …

Deletions in the neurexin-1α gene were identified in large-scale unbiased screens for copy-number
variations in patients with autism or schizophrenia. To explore the underlying biology…

PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten) is a lipid phosphatase
that counteracts the function of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K). Loss of function of …

Animal models are extremely useful tools in defining pathogenesis and treatment of human
disease. Creating adequate animal models of complex neuropsychiatric disorders such as …

Learning is accompanied by modulation of postsynaptic signal transduction pathways in
neurons. Although the neuronal protein kinase cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) has been …

The Shank3 gene encodes a scaffolding protein that anchors multiple elements of the
postsynaptic density at the synapse. Previous attempts to delete the Shank3 gene have not …

Pavlovian fear conditioning provides one of the best rodent models of acquired anxiety
disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder. Injection of a variety of drugs after training in …