# - Author: **Tal Shomrat** - Document Tags: [[autism]], [[dimethyltryptamine]] - [URL link](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370651/)  ## Highlights - During pregnancy the embryo depends on maternal melatonin since the pineal gland is activated only after birth ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hkshaw974gj0320n9sqe0f5f)) --- - About 65% of ASD patients have less than half the average values of melatonin ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hkshgv7y1dc46r2z2rd90py9)) --- - In addition to the link between melatonin and ASD, we propose new insights in light of the recent work by Calvin Ly et al. ([27](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370651#B27)), speculating on the possibility that abnormal metabolism of endogenous N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), possibly from the pineal gland ([28](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6370651#B28)), might cause the aberrant neuroplasticity and neural connectivity abnormalities observed in autistic patients ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hkshnryzmgwvwegv7pchz019)) --- - Schematic diagram illustrating how pineal gland dysfunction and/or MAO-A malfunction metabolism might result in hyperactivity of DMT, causing abnormal neuronal development and some of the behavioral/Physiological symptomns associated with ASD ([View Highlight](https://read.readwise.io/read/01hkshryrgnx27h41w9cfn8k1s)) ---