Glutamate Dysregulation in Cingulated Cortices Is Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Traits

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a severe developmental syndrome that arises largely as a disorder of the neural systems. Despite unclear etiology, one of the most studied causes is the increase in the excitation/inhibition relationship in the sensory and social systems which may explain certain phenotypic expressions in ASD. Glutamate (Glu) is the most important excitatory neurotransmitter in mammals, and the excessive activation of once N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors leads to neuronal death. Crucially, in this study, the finding of elevated Glu concentration [12.10 ± 3.92 (mM) *p = 0.02] by 1H-MRS in the anterior cingulate cortices (ACC) provides strong empirical support for increased arousal in ASD. The imbalance of Glu in cingulated cortices was correlated to dysfunction of social skills, attention switching/tolerance to change, attention to detail, communication, and imagination, (the five deficits present in ASD described in the Autism Quotient test), suggesting new therapeutic avenues.