This study examined how valproic acid (VPA), a medication known to increase autism risk when taken during pregnancy, rapidly alters gene expression in the developing fetal brain. By analyzing changes in the brain transcriptome, the researchers aimed to better understand the molecular pathways through which prenatal VPA exposure may disrupt normal brain development and contribute to autism. The findings offer insights relevant to conditions like White-Sutton syndrome, where overlapping neurodevelopmental pathways may be involved.