Low-dose sedative alleviates autistic-like behavior in mice with Dravet syndrome mutation

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A low dose of the sedative clonazepam alleviated autistic-like behavior in mice with a mutation that causes Dravet syndrome in humans. The mutation results in defective sodium ion channels. Affected brain cells cannot relay "hush" signals. An excess of excitatory signals results. Mice with this defect have seizures, impaired social interactions, learning difficulties, and freeze when confronting new mice or smells. Researchers overcame decreased sodium channel activity in mouse brain cells by increasing the strength of inhibitory signals with a common sedative.

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