Additionally, genetic alterations of BK channel function has been implicated in different disorders in humans that are associated with short-term habituation deficits in startle, e.g., in schizophrenia (for review see Zhang et al., 2006), mental retardation (Higgins, 2008; Deng et al., 2013), and autism (Laumonnier et al., 2006). Here, KCNMA1 is linked to autism.