The article discusses the development and use of behavioral phenotyping assays for mouse models of autism. Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis, and mouse models with targeted mutations in candidate genes for autism are being used to study the disorder. The authors highlight the importance of creating comprehensive sets of behavioral assays that are relevant to the three diagnostic categories of autism: abnormal social interactions, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors. They review various assays for social interaction abnormalities, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors in mice, including reciprocal social interactions, social approach, olfactory habituation/dishabituation, ultrasonic vocalizations, stereotyped behaviors, and insistence on sameness. The article also addresses methodological considerations such as control parameters, sample sizes, statistical analyses, and replicability. Finally, it discusses the translational applications of these assays, including the potential for using mouse models to discover effective treatments for autism spectrum disorders.The article discusses the development and use of behavioral phenotyping assays for mouse models of autism. Autism is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis, and mouse models with targeted mutations in candidate genes for autism are being used to study the disorder. The authors highlight the importance of creating comprehensive sets of behavioral assays that are relevant to the three diagnostic categories of autism: abnormal social interactions, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors. They review various assays for social interaction abnormalities, communication deficits, and repetitive behaviors in mice, including reciprocal social interactions, social approach, olfactory habituation/dishabituation, ultrasonic vocalizations, stereotyped behaviors, and insistence on sameness. The article also addresses methodological considerations such as control parameters, sample sizes, statistical analyses, and replicability. Finally, it discusses the translational applications of these assays, including the potential for using mouse models to discover effective treatments for autism spectrum disorders.