Minicolumns and Seizures in Autism
In autism a deficit in surround inhibition of minicolumns results in smaller modules which coalesce into discrete, isolated islands of coordinated excitatory activity. These islands could serve as potential ictal (seizure) foci. Moreover, their autonomous activity would hinder the binding of associated cortical areas, arguably promoting focus on particulars as opposed to general features.
Manuel F. Casanova, MD, MD
Dr. Manuel Casanova was a founding member of the National Alliance for Autism Research. He chaired for several years the Developmental Brain Disorders Study Section of the NIH. He serves as an editor for five different journals. Dr. Casanova is the recipient of an EUREKA award from the NIMH for innovative research in regards to autism. In 2010 he was a plenary speaker at the World Organization of Autism Congress in Monterrey Mexico.
