Ricerc@Sapienza

The current study investigated the extent cognitive and emotion regulation deficits (i.e., executive functions) associated with autism impact on the development of imagination in writing. Sixty-one children participated in the study (M age = 9 years 7 months, SD = 14 months, 18 female, 43 male), comprising a selected group with autism characteristics (N = 26, M age = 9 years 5 months, SD = 17 months, 4 female, 22 male) and an age-matched group of typically developing children (N = 35, M age = 9 years 8 months, SD = 12 months, 14 female, 21 male).

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are often characterised by sleep problems, and recent evidence indicates alterations of the sleep electroencephalographic (EEG) oscillations in these patients. Sleep microstructure plays a crucial role in cognitive functioning and brain maturation. In this view, modifications in sleep EEG oscillations in NDDs could further impair the cognitive maturation process in these patients.

Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic and mood stabilizer valproic acid (VPA) is an environmental risk factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASD), although recent epidemiological studies show that the public awareness of this association is still limited. Based on the clinical findings, prenatal VPA exposure in rodents is a widely used preclinical model of ASD. However, there is limited information about the precise biochemical mechanisms underlying the link between ASD and VPA.

Background and objective: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder for which no treatments exist. Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common form of inherited mental retardation and the most frequent monogenic cause of ASD. Given the lack of pharmacological treatments for ASD, increasing interest is devoted to non-pharmacological approaches, including dietary interventions. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are critical for neurobehavioraldevelopment. This study had two aims: 1. To validatethe recently developed Fmr1-Δexon 8 rat model of FXS; 2.

The ?7 nicotinic receptor consists of identical subunits and is one of the most abundant acetylcholine receptor in the mammalian central nervous system. However its expression is also found in the peripheral nervous system as well as in the immune system and various peripheral tissues. It is involved in the regulation of several activities ranging from excitatory neurotransmission and the modulation of the release of several neurotransmitters, regulation of neurite outgrowth, and even neuronal survival/death.

The nerve growth factor (NGF) belongs to a family of proteins termed neurotrophins, consisting of NGF, brain-derived neuro- trophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3), NT-4/5 and NT-6. Today, NGF is well recognized to mediate a large number of trophobiological actions resulting in neurotrophic, immunotrophic and/or metabotrophic effects. The pathobiology of neurode- generative diseases, including Alzheimer disease, psychiatric disorders (e.g.