Parvalbumin Interneurons & the Autistic Phenotype

Today's episode is about excitation-inhibition with specific attention with an inhibitory neuron called parvalbumin interneurons (PVINs). The discussion covers the medial prefrontal cortex, insular cortex, and salience network, linking their dysfunction to autistic traits like sensory over-responsiveness and social deficits. We cover two articles, alongside the CNTNAP2 protein’s role in neural circuit organization and its implications for Autism.

The episode also critiques the 1985 theory of mind framework, emphasizing autistic strengths in interoception and intuition, which suggest a sensory-social trade-off that enhances learning and information processing. PVIN hypofunction is connected to social deficits and rigid thinking, supported by a 2017 post-mortem study showing a 38-70% reduction in prefrontal PVINs. The discussion integrates prior research on salience network hyper-connectivity and emotional processing deficits in autism.

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00:00 - Parvalbumin Interneurons

Fujima et al., social familiarity, emotion recognition, graphical abstract.

02:03 - Neuron Interactions

PVIN activity, social interactions, familiar/stressed peers, pyramidal neurons, excitation-inhibition balance.

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09:46 - Medial Prefrontal Cortex in Autism

Decision-making, social cognition, self-referential thinking, anterior cingulate cortex

12:38 - Insular Cortex and Salience Network

Insular cortex, anterior insula, salience network, emotional states, bodily signals, social cues, autistic intuition.

15:06 - Parvalbumin Interneurons

PVINs, GABAergic, fast-spiking, cortex/hippocampus/basal ganglia, inhibition, neural synchronization, social/emotional processing.

17:08 - Fujima et al. Study Methodology and Behavioral Effects

Microendoscopic calcium imaging, chemogenetic manipulation, mice, social familiarity, emotional recognition, context-dependent behaviors, pyramidal modulation.

21:22 - Tsang et al. Study on Infant Salience Network

six-week-old infants, salience network, sensorimotor/prefrontal connectivity, sensory over-responsiveness, social attention, autism likelihood.

25:22 - Salience Network and Autism Research

Salience network hyper-connectivity, sensory processing, alexithymia, anterior insula, emotional processing deficits, autism studies (2013, 2016, 2024).

27:44 - CNTNAP2 and PVIN Dysfunction

Neural circuits, synaptic function, dendritic arborization, PVIN reduction, social deficits, 2017 post-mortem study.

32:00 - Autistic Interoception and Theory of Mind

Intuition, sensory-social trade-off, theory of mind, learning/information processing.

34:00 - Closing

X: https://x.com/rps47586

YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxEzLKXkjppo3nqmpXpzuA

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