Loss of NaV1.2-Dependent Backpropagating Action Potentials in Dendrites Contributes to Autism and Intellectual Disability

Abstract

Mutations in voltage-dependent sodium channels cause severe autism/intellectual disability. In this issue of Neuron, Spratt et al. (2019) show that lowering expression of Nav1.2 channels attenuates backpropagation of action potentials into dendrites of cortical neurons, preventing spike-timing-dependent synaptic plasticity.