The #SCN2A community is incredible. We got interested after hearing about the gene at a @simonsfoundation.org SFARI Investigator Meeting. Later we started fruitful discussions and got mice from @neurobender.bsky.social. Hao was further inspired attending the @scn2a.bsky.social Conference. 🙌

6/6

Link to previous preprint thread with more details on the results:
bsky.app/profile/alex...

Overall, our findings highlight dendrites as a potential substrate for the cognitive rigidity that characterizes autism spectrum disorders.

5/6

We had some fun and called the computer opponent ‘Tom’, after Tom and Jerry. Here is Tom playing the iterative game...
4/6

2) We designed a new task in which mice play the ‘matching pennies’ game against a computer opponent that can change strategy. Scn2a+/− mice could not adapt and their dendritic neural signals were disrupted.

There are few cross-species tasks for autism, and I think this may be one.

3/6

1) Using multi-plane two-photon calcium imaging, we showed that Scn2a+/− mice deficient mice had impaired coupling between apical and proximal dendritic compartments.

This defect was present in the live brain, which extends previous studies that came from brain slices.

2/6

More food pics at conferences! 🙌

Just saw someone posted the forecast 😬

At least it will be warmer

It is basically just above where I teach my class this semester.. 🤫