A new study has revealed a possible explanation for why individuals with autism often experience heightened sensitivity to light and noise.

Researchers found that mice lacking the Shank3 protein, which is associated with autism, were more sensitive to touch on their whiskers. These mice also exhibited overactive neurons in the somatosensory cortex, which contributed to their over-reactivity.

The study suggests that defects in inhibitory neurons may be a key mechanism in sensory hypersensitivity. Understanding the cellular basis of this hypersensitivity could help in the development of potential treatments.

The study, published in Nature Neuroscience, provides valuable insights for future research on sensory abnormalities in autism.

The original article can be found here.

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