Fig. 7: Summary Scheme: PFC-PVIs show decreased excitability and drive following juvenile social isolation, a manipulation that leads to decreased social interaction.

In group housed adults, short dmPFC-PVI activation induced by optogenetics mirrors naturally observed pre-active dmPFC-PVI activity, and leads to social approach. This relationship is not observed in juvenile socially isolated mice. Decreased social interaction can be induced in group housed animals by inhibiting PFC-PVI in adult mice; social interaction of isolated mice can be mitigated by increasing PFC-PVI activity.