AUTHOR=Gonçalves Ana Margarida , Sousa Nuno , Jacinto Luis , Monteiro Patricia 

TITLE=The Shank3-InsG3680(+/+) mouse model of autism spectrum disorder displays auditory avoidance in a novel behavioral test

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

VOLUME=Volume 17 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/behavioral-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1205507

DOI=10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1205507

ISSN=1662-5153

ABSTRACT=Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication and social interaction, restricted interests, repetitive behaviors, and sensory alterations, being auditory hypersensitivity one of the most commonly reported sensory-perceptual abnormalities. Several candidate genes have emerged from patient studies such as SHANK3, a gene that encodes a protein (SHANK3) in the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. Previous work has shown that mutant mice carrying a human ASD-mutation in the Shank3 gene (InsG3680), exhibit repetitive behaviors and social interaction deficits, displaying important construct and face validity as an animal model of ASD. To further address whether these mice also present auditory sensoryperceptual alterations, we developed a novel behavioral test where mice can choose between different soundscapes. Our results reveal that, in comparison to wild-type mice, Shank3-mutants display a strong behavioral preference towards silent regions of the arena. These data suggest that Shank3-mutant mice might have an auditory hypersensitivity phenotype, further adding to its face validity as an animal model of ASD.