NCCR-Synapsy

The Synaptic Bases of Mental Diseases

Early Diagnosis of ASD : what the studies on social orientation and on joint attention may bring to the issue

Magizne Devenir cover

The diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD) is based on behavioral observations. It is hard to make such a diagnosis for sure before the age of 3. However, the first years of life are a period marked by a great Read more…


SHANK3 controls maturation of social reward circuits in the VTA

shShank3 Imagery

The autism spectrum disorders are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders whose main characteristic alterations in social communication, restricted interests and repetitive behaviors. If the assumptions to identify alterations in brain circuits that could be responsible for autism disorders are Read more…


ESDM: A Game-changing therapy for autism

Autism band

The Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) is an innovative therapy for autism that makes a difference in the treatment of very young patients. The method is now used successfully in Switzerland since 2010, notably in Geneva. An article appearing in Read more…


The tragic death of Professor Dominique Muller

Dominique Muller

It is with heavy hearts that we learned that Professor Dominique Muller, Head of the Department of Basic Neurosciences in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Geneva and co-director of the NCCR-Synapsy sadly died after a gliding accident Read more…


Scientists discover the origin of a giant synapse

calyx of held synapse

Calyx of Held synapse covering the neuron soma How do we locate the spatial position of sounds? Scientists have revealed a mechanism responsible for the creation of giant synapses in the brain that allow us to efficiently process auditory information. Read more…


Disorder of neuronal circuits in autism is reversible

synapses

Synaptic connections in the brain of a mouse model for autism People with autism suffer from a pervasive developmental disorder of the brain that becomes evident in early childhood. Peter Scheiffele and Kaspar Vogt, Professors at the Biozentrum of the Read more…