Study reveals how strengthening key brain cells may ease learning and communication challenges

12-23-2025

What if improving the activity of a small group of brain cells could help reset the rhythms the brain relies on for learning and communication?

A new study led by Purdue University researchers suggests this targeted approach may open the door to more precise treatments for conditions associated with learning and social challenges.

Published in iScience, the research centers on Fragile X syndrome- one of the most common inherited causes of intellectual disability and autism-related traits. The condition occurs when the body cannot produce enough of a protein called FMRP, which plays a central role in how brain cells grow, organize and communicate. Without it, the brain’s signaling networks can fall out of sync, making it harder to process information, recognize familiar patterns or respond to social cues.

A closer look at “brain rhythms”
The study identifies a specific type of brain rhythm, known as a theta oscillation, that appears to be especially important for memory and visual learning. These rhythms help different parts of the brain stay coordinated, operating much like radio waves that keep stations tuned to the same frequency. When they are strong and steady, the brain can exchange information more efficiently.

The Purdue team found that without FMRP, these rhythms become weaker and shift to the wrong frequency. That disruption appears to interfere with how the brain predicts, responds to and learns from familiar contexts.

A key driver of these rhythms is a small population of brain cells called parvalbumin-positive interneurons. These cells act as stabilizers, helping maintain balance across neural circuits and shaping how different regions communicate. The team’s earlier work- along with research from other groups- suggested that these interneurons may be especially impacted when FMRP is missing.

Restoring a missing signal
To test whether supporting these cells could improve broader brain communication, the researchers restored FMRP only in parvalbumin-positive interneurons. Instead of trying to correct the entire brain, they focused on the “control hubs” that help regulate timing and coordination.

The results were striking. When FMRP was restored in this small population of cells, the brain’s learning-related rhythms grew stronger and more organized. In turn, overall signaling across the network became more coordinated. The study also reported improvements in behaviors related to attention, social engagement and visual learning- real-world functions linked to these rhythms.

“Our work shows that the brain’s ‘radio waves’- the rhythms that help different regions communicate- are weaker and out of tune when this protein is missing,” said Alexander Chubykin, associate professor of biological sciences, associate director of the Purdue Autism Research Center and member of the Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience. “When we restored the protein in a specific set of cells, those rhythms partially returned, along with improvements in learning and social behavior. This is an encouraging step toward therapies that focus on the brain’s control hubs rather than the entire system.”

The study’s lead contributor, Purdue researcher Sanghamitra Nareddula, conducted the majority of the electrophysiological recordings and behavioral work. Additional support came from team members including Violeta Saldarriaga, Xinwan Hu, Paige Edens and Mia Fehlinger.

Why it matters
The findings highlight a promising principle: restoring balance in a targeted group of cells may be enough to stabilize larger circuits, even when the underlying genetic condition is more widespread. For developmental conditions such as Fragile X syndrome and autism, this could help guide the creation of therapies that prioritize precision and avoid the challenges of systemwide treatment.

The work also advances a broader understanding of how learning and memory depend on well-regulated rhythms across the brain. When those rhythms are disrupted, the ability to recognize familiar images, anticipate what comes next or stay engaged during social interactions can all be affected.

Looking ahead
More research is needed before these insights can translate into clinical treatment. Still, the Purdue team’s discoveries point to a potential path toward therapies that boost the function of parvalbumin interneurons- only about 15% of brain cells but essential for keeping the system in balance.

The study was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health.

 

About the Department of Biological Sciences at Purdue University
The Department of Biological Sciences is the largest life sciences department at Purdue University. As part of Purdue One Health, we are dedicated to pioneering scientific discoveries and transformative education at the cutting edge of innovation. From molecules to cells, from tissues to organisms, from populations to ecosystems- we bring together multiple perspectives, integrating across biological scales to advance our understanding of life and tackle the world’s most pressing challenges. Learn more at bio.purdue.edu.

 

Written by: Alisha Willett, Communications Specialist, amwillet@purdue.edu

Contributors: Alex Chubykin, chubykin@purdue.edu