Topic: barrel-field cortex

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, characterized by behavioral and neuronal anomalies. Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMS) constitutes a specific neurodevelopmental disorder exhibiting ASD-like behaviors, caused by mutations or deletions of SHANK3 gene. Mice lacking the SHANK3 gene are widely considered a reliable model to study PMS, since they show autism-like behaviors and sensory deficits, such as aberrant whisker-dependent texture discrimination and local hyperactivation of the barrel-field cortex. These local alterations mirror dysfunctions of the enti