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. Daylight Computer Company use "autism" for $50 off at https://buy.daylightcomputer.com/autism Chroma Light Devices use "autism" for 10% discount at https://getchroma.co/?ref=autism 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. 04:10 - Daylight Computer use "autism" for $50 discount 06:38 - Chroma Light Devices use "autism" for 10% discount 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 email: info.fromthespectrum@gmail.com