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Synaptic Dysfunction and Intellectual Disability

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Synaptic Plasticity

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((volume 970))

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Abstract

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Intellectual disability (ID) is a common and highly heterogeneous paediatric disorder with a very severe social impact. Intellectual disability can be caused by environmental and/or genetic factors. Although in the last two decades a number of genes have been discovered whose mutations cause mental retardation, we are still far from identifying the impact of these mutations on brain functions. Many of the genes mutated in ID code for several proteins with a variety of functions: chromatin remodelling, pre-/post-synaptic activity, and intracellular trafficking. The prevailing hypothesis suggests that the ID phenotype could emerge from abnormal cellular processing leading to pre- and/or post-synaptic dysfunction. In this chapter, we focus on the role of small GTPases and adhesion molecules, and we discuss the mechanisms through which they lead to synaptic network dysfunction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Pharmacology, University of Milan, Via Vanvitelli 32, 20129, Milan, Italy

    Pamela Valnegri, Carlo Sala & Maria Passafaro

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  1. Pamela Valnegri
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  2. Carlo Sala
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  3. Maria Passafaro
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Correspondence to Maria Passafaro .

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  1. , PG Neuroplasticity, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Brenneckestraße 6, Magdeburg, 39118, Germany

    Michael R. Kreutz

  2. , Institute of Neuroscience, CR6 CNR-IN Consiglio Nazionale delle Ric, Via Vanvitelli, 32, Milano, 20129, Italy

    Carlo Sala

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Valnegri, P., Sala, C., Passafaro, M. (2012). Synaptic Dysfunction and Intellectual Disability. In: Kreutz, M., Sala, C. (eds) Synaptic Plasticity. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 970. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-0932-8_19

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