Restoring interbrain prefrontal theta synchronization reverses social deficits

Social interaction requires the integration of information about oneself, others, and the shared environment. One proposed mechanism for this coordination is interbrain synchrony – correlated neural activity between interacting individuals –observed in both humans and animals. However, whether this synchrony plays a functional role in orchestrating social behavior remains unclear. Here, we show that theta-band synchronization in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) is essential for naturalistic social interactions in mice. Using a genetic model of social dysfunction, we demonstrate that disruptions in mPFC synchrony correlate with impaired social behaviors. We identify a population of social behavior encoding neurons that are directly linked to interbrain synchrony. Optogenetically enhancing theta synchronization restores both interbrain synchrony and social behaviors, while desynchronization impairs social interactions in wild-type mice. Our findings establish prefrontal theta synchrony as a fundamental mechanism for social behavior with therapeutic implications for disorders characterized by social deficits. More broadly, this work provides a framework for understanding how neural circuits across brains dynamically interact to shape behavior.