Background<\/p>\n
Social memory – the ability to recognize familiar individuals and distinguish them from strangers – is fundamental to social cognition. Deficits in social memory are hallmarks of multiple neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Notably, these conditions frequently co-occur with chronic sleep disturbances. Although extensive evidence linking sleep disruption to impaired social cognition, the underlying circuit-level and neurochemical mechanisms have remained largely unresolved.<\/p>\n
Research progress<\/p>\n
To address these challenges, the research team led by Prof. Haibo Xu and Prof. Linlin Bi at Wuhan University employed a combination of high-resolution oxytocin (OXT) sensor imaging, optogenetics, calcium imaging, and electrophysiological approaches to uncover the neural circuit mechanisms underlying sleep disruption-induced social memory impairment, as well as potential intervention strategies.<\/p>\n
The study found that chronic sleep disruption persistently impairs social memory;
OXT release is differentially encoded in hippocampal CA2 during social novelty encoding, and prelimbic cortex (PrL) during retrieval of familiar individuals; PVNOXT-CA2 and PVNOXT-PrL – respectively govern social memory encoding and retrieval;High-frequency (100 Hz) stimulation of PVNOXT neurons restores neuronal excitability, enhances OXT release, and produces sustained behavioral recovery.<\/p>\n
Future prospects<\/p>\n
This work provides causal evidence linking sleep disruption, oxytocin signaling, and social memory circuits. Importantly, it highlights restoration of the oxytocin neuronal source as a more effective strategy than downstream circuit modulation alone. The findings offer a conceptual and experimental framework for developing neuromodulation-based therapies, optimizing oxytocin-related interventions, and advancing precision medicine approaches for social cognitive dysfunction associated with sleep disorders.<\/p>\n
Source:<\/p>\n
Science and Technology Review Publishing House<\/a><\/p>\n Journal reference:<\/p>\n