Introduction
Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are complex neurodevelopmental disorders with a wide range of behavioral manifestations (Persico and Bourgeron 2006). Research in the neurobiology of ASD will lead to optimal treatments for this heterogeneous group of ASDs, and the impact of ASD can be minimized through intensive intervention, especially during early childhood (Holden and Liu 2005; Johnston and Blue 2006; Lam et al. 2006; Persico and Bourgeron 2006).
Abnormalities in brain structure and function are common in ASD patients, but there is variability among subjects. Several reports have described postnatal macrocephaly in ASD patients (Amaral et al. 2008). Qualitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans suggest the occurrence of neuronal migration defects in some cases of ASD, and enlarged occipital and parietal lobes have also been reported. Causes of macrocephaly in ASD patients may include increased neurogenesis, decreased neuronal cell death, and increased production...
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Takeuchi, Y. (2020). Noradrenergic System. In: Volkmar, F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Autism Spectrum Disorders. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_1541-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6435-8_1541-3
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