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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.10.16.682530

Brain-Wide Subnetworks within and between Naturally Socializing Typical and Autism Model Mice

Marmor, O.·Terner, R.·Khoury, V.·Ginzburg, S.·Amal, H.·Gilad, A.
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Abstract

Social interaction is inherently asymmetric, requiring coordinated activity between non-homologous brain regions across individuals. However, the brain-wide dynamics underlying such inter-brain coordination remain poorly understood. We used multi-fiber photometry to simultaneously record from 24 brain regions in pairs of freely interacting mice, including a model of autism. Social interactions evoked widespread, dynamic activity across brains, with inter-brain synchrony, especially between non-homologous areas, exceeding intra-brain synchrony, particularly in dominant mice. Network analysis revealed three subnetworks: (1) Emotional, intra-brain enhanced in subordinates; (2) Sensory, spanning both mice; (3) Decision/consolidation, linking dominant prefrontal cortex to subordinate hippocampus. These subnetworks encoded dominance, identity, and interaction roles, and followed a clear temporal sequence around social events. In an autism model, socially evoked activity was hyperactive displaying mostly within brain synchrony but lacked inter-brain synchrony. Our results uncover dynamic inter-brain circuits as a hallmark of social behavior and reveal their disruption in autism.

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Marmor, O., Terner, R., Khoury, V., Ginzburg, S., Amal, H., Gilad, A.. 2025-10-16. Brain-Wide Subnetworks within and between Naturally Socializing Typical and Autism Model Mice. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.10.16.682530

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