The class project for this course is a written report, that addresses the biological study of a specific behavioral or mental phenomenon (normal or pathological) covered in the readings and videos....

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL METHODS IN NEUROSCIENCE
TITLE: NEUROTRANSMITTER DYSFUNCTION IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASD): A CORRELATION STUDY OF THE BIOCHEMICAL BASIS
Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview
    Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) refers to complex neurological developmental disorders that result in significant social, behavioural and communication challenges. ASD is diagnosed in early childhood usually before the age of 3 years and lasts for a lifetime. The name ‘spectrum’ disorder is given based on the range of symptoms observed in case of people suffering from ASD. These symptoms include restricted or repetitive behaviors, lack of social responsiveness, poor eye contact etc. People suffering from ASD differ only in terms of their ways in learning, communicating, interacting and behaving; their thought process and problem-solving abilities can either be exceptionally gifted of severely affected thus needing constant care and attention on a daily basis. ASD is a group of three neurological disorders namely:
i. Autism
ii. Asperger's syndrome
iii. Pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS).
Individuals with ASD have an increased risk of developing serious medical conditions such as mental illness and seizures. Thus, an early diagnosis is essential in order to reduce the severity of these symptoms followed of effective treatment strategies implicated by trained healthcare professionals to promote a positive outlook towards the disorder to both the patient as well as the family. Today, the novel tools for ASD diagnosis focus on two major domains:
1. Social communication impairment- This includes having problems in understanding and responding to social cues such as facial expressions and eye-contact, minimal expression of emotions or interests, difficulties in making and maintaining relationships such as friendships, inability to have normal back-and-forth communication.
2. Restricted interests or repetitive behaviours- this includes a must requirement for a conventional routine, showing interests in performing activities that are not common to that age-group, recognizing and feeling the sensory facets such as smell, taste, touch and movements in an unusual and extreme manner, hand-flapping and toe-walking etc.
Fundamental issues in ASD
    ASD is a brain-based disorder that has atypical behavioural and cognitive impacts on the Central Nervous System. Research shows the evidence of ASD having association with abnormalities such as impairment in cell signaling and mitochondrial function, inflammation, disruptions in effective neurotransmission, immune system and breathing disorders and gastrointestinal diseases. Fundamental issues that impact an individual suffering from ASD include:
i. Brain structure and function abnormalities observed in ASD
ii. Neuroimflammation and activation of neuroglial cells
iii. Dysfunction in neurotransmission of glutamate (Glu)
The genetic-syndromes such as Rett syndrome, Angelman syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, Phelan McDermid syndrome, Timothy syndrome and neurofibromatosis are associated with ASD. Researchers believe that genetic and environmental factors majorly contribute to the phenotypic heterogeneity of ASD. Chronic neuro-inflammation and gamma-amino butyric acid (GABA) imbalance are considered as some major biological factors governing the pathophysiology of ASD although the pathophysiological mechanisms of ASD are still unknown.
Moreover, a Harvard Medical School study suggests that the development of ASD is not only confined to the deficiencies in brain development but it also affects various parts of the peripheral nervous system; the nerves present in limbs, fingers and other parts of the body that are involved in...