Expanding the neurodevelopmental relevance of the SC–VTA pathway in autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

The study by Contestabile et al. presents compelling evidence for the involvement of the superior colliculus–ventral tegmental area (SC-VTA) pathway in the pathophysiology of social orienting deficits in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) [1]. Their translational approach bridges animal and human models, revealing a conserved circuit-level alteration that holds promise both as a biomarker and a therapeutic target.

The demonstration that reduced SC-VTA connectivity is associated with both behavioral and developmental outcomes in children with ASD invites us to reframe early social orienting as an emergent property of subcortical neuromodulatory circuits. From a developmental perspective, this pathway may serve as a mechanism for aligning attentional resources with socially salient cues. The superior colliculus, with its early maturation and multisensory integration capabilities [2, 3], may influence dopaminergic circuits supporting reinforcement learning and motivational salience [4]. However, it remains unclear whether SC-VTA dysconnectivity reflects a causal neurodevelopmental disruption or a compensatory response to atypical experience. Clarifying this distinction will be crucial.