These models encompassed tuberous sclerosis Tsc2+/− mice as genetic model of syndromic autism28, Cntnap2−/−, Shank3−/− and NL3R451C knock-in (KI) mice for idiopathic autism29, 30, 31, the valproic acid (VPA) mouse model of environmentally triggered autism32, as well as BTBR T+tf/J mice as a behaviorally defined model of autism of unknown genetic origin33. This evidence concerns the gene SHANK3 and autism.