# Gene mutations point to overlaps in brain connectivity for autism, schizophrenia
People who have large mutations associated with autism and schizophrenia share atypical patterns of brain connectivity, according to a new study, especially between areas that process sensory information. The findings offer a potential explanation for why different genetic changes can lead to the same behavioral traits, the researchers say.
Deletions or duplications of stretches of DNA, or copy number variations (CNVs), in the chromosomal regions 16p11.2 and 22q11.2 are linked to both autism and schizophrenia, to varying degrees. Autism is more often linked to 16p11.2 deletions and 22q11.2 duplications, whereas schizophrenia is more often associated with 16p11.2 duplications and 22q11.2 deletions.