New York: A fault in the channel of cells related to release of calcium in brain may be linked to certain forms of autism and serve both as a potential biomarker for diagnosing the disorder as well as a potential therapeutic target, new research has found.

In the brain, calcium is used to communicate information within and between neurons, and it activates a host of other cell functions, including ones regulating learning and memory, neuronal excitability and neurotransmitter release - areas known to be dysfunctional in autism spectrum disorders (ASD).