Scientists have discovered a particular chemical in the brain that, according to them, is associated with autism. The Harvard University researchers have discovered that there is a relation between autistic behavior and a breakdown in the signaling pathway that a main inhibitory neurotransmitter called GABA uses.

In a university news release, study leader Caroline Robertson said that this was the first time ever that in humans that a brain neurotransmitter has been associated with autistic behavior. Robertson added, “This theory -- that the GABA signaling pathway plays a role in autism -- has been shown in animal models, but until now we never had evidence for it actually causing autistic differences in humans”.

During the study, the team led by Robertson used brain imaging and a visual test known to trigger various reactions in the brains of people suffering from autism and the ones without the disorder. According to them similar tests may be used for screening young children for autism.

The researchers said that though GABA has been suspected as a factor in autism for long, there has been no evidence so far.

Robertson mentioned that autism is generally defined as a disorder where in all the sensory input comes flooding in at the same time.

She added that furthermore autistic people often have seizures and they think that seizures are runaway excitation in the brain.

The researchers said that though the finding has improved the understanding of autism and may give way to new treatments, targeting the GABA pathway, it is just a single piece of the autism puzzle.