The major goal of the pilot study is to unravel the neural correlates underlying disturbances in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in a mouse model of 16p11.2 deletion syndrome. Weber’s teams will test whether reduced activity in the prefrontal cortex contributes to the suppression of phasic REM sleep, resulting in fewer rapid eye movements. Additionally, they will explore whether restoring phasic REM sleep can alleviate memory impairments observed in these mice.

Many individuals with ASD experience persistent agitation or aggression, which has an enormous impact on their and their families’ quality of life. In this project, Alexander Li Cohen aims to identify a brain circuit where injury or developmental alteration is associated with agitation and aggression across age and clinical populations. This will localize a potential mechanism as well as a putative treatment target for non-invasive neuromodulation.

Motor impairments are prevalent in individuals with ASD without a known genetic syndrome (nonsyndromic ASD) and with a known genetic syndrome (syndromic ASD) and can negatively impact environmental exploration, social engagement and language development. In the current project, Rujuta Wilson aims to use quantitative measurement to develop improved methods to identify motor impairments in individuals with ASD and chromatin modifying disorders that can serve as targets for treatment and be implemented into clinical trials.