Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42151641›Full record

ReviewCellular and molecular neurobiology2026

The Role of Serotonin in Brain Development: From Molecular Pathways to Neurodevelopmental Risk.

Wing Ki Chan, Sofia Rasmusson, Seyedeh Marziyeh Jabbari Shiadeh, Rebecka Wilhelmsson, Maria E Johansson, Betina Elfving, Heidi Kaastrup Müller, Carina Mallard, Maryam Ardalan

Abstract readReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Cellular and molecular neurobiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Wing Ki ChanDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-6720-942X
Sofia RasmussonDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0006-8436-1787
Seyedeh Marziyeh Jabbari ShiadehDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6014-0599
Rebecka WilhelmssonDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0009-4828-8895
Maria E JohanssonDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2569-2977
Betina ElfvingDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6939-5088
Heidi Kaastrup MüllerDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Translational Neuropsychiatry Unit, Aarhus University, Palle Juul-Jensens Boulevard 11, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9842-8114
Carina MallardDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8953-919X
Maryam ArdalanDepartment of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 11, Box 432, Gothenburg, 40530, Sweden. Maryam.ardalan@gu.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3414-1584

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) is a multifaceted neuromodulator involved in processes from early embryogenesis to postnatal brain maturation. During pregnancy, 5-HT plays critical roles not only in maternal mood and behavior but also in placental function and fetal brain development. Beyond its classical role in mood regulation, 5-HT acts as a developmental signal influencing neuronal proliferation, migration, and synaptic organization within precisely timed critical windows. This narrative review provides an integrative framework linking molecular, cellular, and systems-level 5-HT mechanisms to neurodevelopmental outcomes, emphasizing how maternal, placental, and fetal sources of 5-HT dynamically interact with genetic, environmental, and pharmacological factors during gestation. By considering recent advances from developmental neurobiology, genetics, and psychopharmacology, we propose that disrupted 5-HTergic homeostasis represents a convergent mechanism underlying neurodevelopmental risk, particularly in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We further highlight emerging evidence for sex-dependent 5-HTergic signaling and its role in differential susceptibility across offspring. These results collectively indicate the key role of 5-HT in neurodevelopment and highlight its promise as a biomarker and therapeutic target in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Indexed as

BrainNeurodevelopmental DisordersSerotoninSignal TransductionAnimalsFemaleHumansNeurodevelopmentPregnancyRisk FactorsSerotonin5-HTAutismNeurodevelopmental disorderTryptophan

Identifiers

PMID42151641
PMCPMC13184029

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.