Accordingly, this study could be the first to investigate the effects of memantine/aripiprazole combined administration on autistic-like behaviors and cognitive functions in the prenatal valproate rat model of autism and to explore their effects on CREB/BDNF signaling, astrocytic Glt-1 expression, and glutamate balance which could represent key pathological events associated with ASD. The gene discussed is BDNF; the disease is autism.