Orbitofrontal PV interneurons modulate social interaction via default mode network dynamics.
Elmira Khatamsaz, Tudor M. Ionescu, Katja Keppler, Franziska Stoller, Dennis Kätzel, Hugh M Marston, Bastian Hengerer
Communications Biology April 24, 2026 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-026-10060-y (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Preclinical experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Preclinical animal model |
| Intervention | Activation of parvalbumin interneurons in the orbitofrontal cortex |
| Topics | Default mode network |
| Keywords | Prefrontal cortex Nerve net Interneurons Animals Humans Parvalbumins Male Social interaction |
| Key findings | Activating parvalbumin interneurons in the orbitofrontal cortex impaired default mode network connectivity and reduced normal social behavior in a preclinical model, supporting a causal link between DMN dysfunction and social impairment. |
Abstract
Social interactions are critical for mental health and are frequently disrupted in neuropsychiatric disorders. Clinical data suggest a link between dysfunction of the default mode network (DMN) and social impairment. To advance our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying social dysfunction, we back-translate these clinical findings into a preclinical setup, demonstrating that impaired DMN connectivity - achieved through activation of Parvalbumin interneurons in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) reduces normal social behaviour.
Comparable studies
Other preclinical and animal studies on default mode network, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rat brains also have a default mode network Rats | 2012 | Observational study | |
| Large-scale topology and the default mode network in the mouse connectome Mouse brain | 2014 | Observational study | |
| Hippocampal Sharp-Wave Ripples Influence Selective Activation of the Default Mode Network Anesthetized monkeys | 2016 | Observational study | |
| Psilocybin-induced default mode network hypoconnectivity is blunted in alcohol-dependent rats Healthy rats and a rat model of alcohol relapse | 2023 | Randomized, placebo-controlled crossover pharmaco-fMRI study | |
| Altered functional connectivity within the default mode network in two animal models with opposing episodic memories Rats (control, LPS-challenged, and footshock-exposed groups) | 2018 | Animal model study |
Citations in the library
Cites 4
- A default mode of brain function Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences January 16, 2001
- Rat brains also have a default mode network Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences February 21, 2012
- The Journey of the Default Mode Network: Development, Function, and Impact on Mental Health Biology April 1, 2025
- Effective Connectivity within the Default Mode Network: Dynamic Causal Modeling of Resting-State fMRI Data Frontiers in Human Neuroscience February 1, 2016