Impaired long term potentiation (LTP)-like plasticity in patients with high functiong autism and Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS)

Introduction: Autism Spektrum Disorders are severe neurodevelopmental disorders accompanied by motor impairment. An impaired induction of LTP has been demonstrated in an animal model of autism. The aim of the present study was to investigate the induction of LTP-like plasticity by Paired Associative Stimulation (PAS) in patients with high-functioning autism and Asperger syndrome (HFA/AS). Methods: PAS25 was performed in patients with HFA/AS (n=9; n=1 female; mean age: 18±4.3 years) and healthy probands (n=9; n=4 female; age: 22±5.2 years). The motor evoked potential (MEP amplitude) was measured before (Pre) PAS2…