brain sciences Review Stereotypies in the Autism Spectrum Disorder: Can We Rely on an Ethological Model? Roberto Keller 1 , Tatiana Costa 1, Daniele Imperiale 2, Annamaria Bianco 3 , Elisa Rondini 3, Angela Hassiotis 4 and Marco O. Bertelli 3,* 1 Adult Autism Centre, Mental Health Department, ASL Città di Torino, 10138 Turin, Italy;
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[email protected] (T.C.) 2 Neurology Unit, Maria Vittoria Hospital, ASL Città di Torino, 10144 Turin, Italy;
[email protected] 3 CREA (Research and Clinical Centre), San Sebastiano Foundation, Misericordia di Firenze, 50142 Florence, Italy;
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[email protected] (E.R.) 4 Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London W1T 7NF, UK;
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[email protected]; Tel.: +39-055-708880 Abstract: Background: Stereotypic behaviour can be defined as a clear behavioural pattern where a specific function or target cannot be identified, although it delays on time. Nonetheless, repetitive and stereotypical behaviours play a key role in both animal and human behaviour. Similar behaviours are observed across species, in typical human developmental phases, and in some neuropsychiatric conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability. This evidence led to the spread of animal models of repetitive behaviours to better understand the neurobiological mechanisms underlying these dysfunctional behaviours and to gain better insight into their role and Citation: Keller, R.; Costa, T.; origin within ASD and other disorders. This, in turn, could lead to new treatments of those disorders Imperiale, D.; Bianco, A.; Rondini, E.; in humans. Method: This paper maps the literature on repetitive behaviours in animal models of ASD, Hassiotis, A.; Bertelli, M.O.