PMID: 8951804Nov 1, 1996Paper

Autism, Asperger's syndrome and the Crick-Mitchison theory of the biological function of REM sleep

Medical Hypotheses
D W Brown

Abstract

Autism, Asperger's syndrome and other autistic syndromes are developmental brain disorders that cause serious impairments in communication, social interaction, empathy, mood and play. In addition to such deficits, the autistic syndromes involve pathologically high levels of repetitive, stereotypic, ritualistic, compulsive or obsessive behavior, together with extreme resistance to change. According to the Crick-Mitchison theory of the biological function of rapid eye movement sleep, normal brain development in the fetus and infant depends on undisrupted function of a 'reverse learning' mechanism during rapid eye movement sleep. Could abnormalities in this hypothetical reverse learning during rapid eye movement sleep in the fetus explain some aspects of the autistic syndromes? Does the Crick-Mitchison theory suggest if a drug could interfere with rapid eye movement sleep and cross the placental barrier, then that drug might cause developmental brain disorders in the fetus? Should all pregnant women completely avoid caffeine or any agent that might disrupt serotonergic or cholinergic systems?

References

Jun 1, 1989·European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology·G M Al-Hachim
Feb 1, 1994·Journal of the American College of Nutrition·A Nehlig, G Debry
May 1, 1993·Medical Hypotheses·D W Brown

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Citations

Jan 27, 2019·Behavioral Sciences·Maydelin Alfonso-AlfonsoJusta Elizabeth González-Naranjo

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