Social timing, clock genes and autism: a new hypothesis

BACKGROUND: Timing and social timing deficits are fundamental in autism and may play a developmental role in its manifestation. Sleep problems are associated with this disorder, as is a reduction or loss of Purkinje cells associated with regions of the brain which co-ordinate fine motor movements. Genetic studies suggest that a number of genes of limited effect lead to autism and that the genes are epistatic. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that anomalies in clock genes operating as timing genes in high frequency oscillator systems may underlie the timing deficits of autism. We outline how anomalies in methylation-related genes may also be implicated.