Figure 2. Comprehensive View of Identified Expression Abnormalities.

The left panel shows the genetic markers and their classification: laminar layer, cell type, and whether the data are from study I (in which dorsolateral prefrontal cortex from boys was assayed) or study II (in which the expression of a subset of genes was evaluated in both sexes and additional regions). The middle panel shows expression abnormalities as identified by an aggregate decision by two independent investigators after initial examination, according to the brain region. The intensity of the blue color indicates the affected level. The charts below and to the right of the investigators’ ratings show the proportion of markers that were examined that fell into one of two categories of severity (severe or either mild or severe), according to the cell type (below) and brain location (at right). More intense red color indicates greater severity. A single asterisk indicates Patient 6, a 9-year-old unaffected girl who was the only control in whom a patch was identified. Double asterisks indicate Patient 16, a 7-year-old boy with autism in whom investigators found no patch in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex but a clear patch in the posterior superior temporal cortex. Triple asterisks indicate Patient 21, a 14-year-old boy with autism in whom no patch was identified.