Imaging Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor 5 and Excitatory Neural Activity in Autism

This study used PET imaging to compare metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) availability between autistic and neurotypical adults, finding approximately 15% lower mGlu5 availability across brain regions in autistic participants. Researchers correlated receptor availability with EEG measures of excitatory-inhibitory balance to investigate the neurobiological mechanisms underlying differences in excitatory neurotransmission in autism.