Spindle Neurons, Salience Network, & Social Behaviors
In this episode we explore spindle neurons, also known as von Economo neurons (VENs), discovered by Constantine von Economo in the 1920s. These large, cylinder-shaped cells, found in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), anterior (or called frontoinsula) insula, and rarely the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), are crucial for rapid communication in social behaviors. Three key points stand out: first, spindle neurons are located exclusively in the ACC and insula, the core hubs of the salience network, which is disrupted in autism as early as six weeks of age, as shown in a UCLA study. Second, these neurons are primarily involved in social behaviors, underpinning complex interactions in humans and other social species. Third, they are rare, found only in highly social animals like great apes, cetaceans, and possibly elephants, highlighting their evolutionary significance. In autism, increased spindle neuron density in the insula of children aged 4–14 is linked to early brain overgrowth, though this normalizes in adulthood due to pruning.
The salience network, driven by the ACC and anterior insula, relies on spindle neurons to process relevant stimuli, integrate sensory data, and guide social-emotional responses. In autism, hyper-connectivity between the insula and sensory regions causes sensory hypersensitivity, while hypo-connectivity with prefrontal areas, including the DLPFC, impairs social cognition and adaptive behaviors. This disrupts the network’s ability to switch between the default mode network and executive functions, often trapping autistic individuals in an internal world. Spindle neurons are also linked to disorders like frontotemporal dementia, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, and emotional dysregulation.
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0:00 Chroma Light Devices, use "autism" for 10% discount
3:10 Spindle Neurons; Interesting Point #1: Salience Network
6:03 Interesting Point #2: Rapid Communication & Social Behaviors
7:11 "rediscovery" of Spindle Neurons in 1990s by John Allman
8:30 Interesting Point #3: Highly Social Species
10:57 Neuropeptide Y & Monoamine- Dopamine & Serotonin
11:45 Morphology of Spindle Neurons & In Utero-Children; Social Learning
12:54 Species with Spindle Neurons
14:47 Small Clusters within the dlPFC
15:08 Salience Network, ACC, Anterior Insula; Fulcrum for Default Mode and Executive Networks
22:48 Daylight Computer Company, use "autism" for $25 discount
27:08 Diseases/Conditions associated with Spindle Neurons
29:26 The Autistic Phenotype (!!) -- The Whole Reason for the Podcast
32:25 Reviews/Ratings, Contact Info
YT: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGxEzLKXkjppo3nqmpXpzuA
email: [email protected]
From the Spectrum: Finding Superpowers with Autism
I'm Ryan, and I have Autism. From the Spectrum is a podcast about Autism. I am on a mission to explain a likely cause of Autism. Autism suddenly shows up in human evolution, and it seems to be a biological adaption (neuroplasticity) to an environmental change used by living organisms for life- light. Maybe, people fail to understand how living organisms use the energy from light to drive biochemistry. In addition, I want to explain Autism. I use various scientific literature, personal experiences, and opinion. With opinion, I will explain why I feel the way I do, and give examples. I will provide links to various references for each episode. For each episode, we will discuss various aspects of Autism.
Lastly, thank you for listening to From the Spectrum podcast.
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email: [email protected]
- No. of episodes: 75
- Latest episode: 2025-07-07
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